Peru’s President offers to resign over scandal
Peru’s embattled President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski yesterday offered his resignation ahead of an impeachment vote.
In a nationwide televised address, Kuczynski, flanked by his Cabinet, lashed out at opponents led by the daughter of former strongman Alberto Fujimori for allegedly plotting his overthrow with damaging leaks of confidential documents that raised doubts about his integrity and made it impossible to govern.
“I don’t want to be an obstacle blocking our nation from finding the path to unity and harmony that it so much needs and which I was denied,” he said, adding that the campaign in favour of his removal had caused “enormous damage” to Peru’s democracy.
Congress was scheduled to debate overnight on whether to accept the resignation, which would transfer power to First Vice-President Martin Vizcarra. It could also decide to reject his offer and plough ahead with im- peachment proceedings, which a large majority of lawmakers had favoured before Kuczynski resigned.
Many Peruvians have expressed disgust with the political class — not just Kuczynski but also his accusers, led by Fujimori’s daughter Keiko.
Pressure has been building on Kuczynski to resign after the shock revelation this week of secretly shot videos in which several of the President’s allies were caught allegedly trying to buy the support of an opposition lawmaker to block the conservative leader’s impeachment.
— AP