Peruvians march against corruption as head of judiciary resigns
LIMA, (Reuters) - Peruvians marched in the streets across the Andean country yesterday, many carrying effigies of rats or vultures, to demand anti-corruption reforms to clean up the country’s institutions as the head of the judiciary resigned.
Thousands took to the historic district of the capital Lima carrying signs that read “Kick them all out!” and chanting “Stop Corruption! National Shame!”
“It’s not just about dismissing the magistrates. We need a change, a reform of the entire judicial and political system,” said Jorge Rodriguez, a 31-year-old university student.
Peruvians took part in protests in cities including Cusco, Arequipa, Tacna, Iquitos yesterday, media reported.
Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra fired his justice minister, Salvador Heresi, on Friday after a TV station released an audio of a phone conversation between the minister and a judge under investigation for influence peddling.
The audio was part of several wiretapped phone conversations of judges and their associates that were recorded by police as part of a criminal probe before being leaked to Peruvian media, the judge who authorized the wiretapping has said.
In the recordings, judges appear to be discussing plans to trade favors, help convicted criminals and secure jobs for friends.
One judge has been arrested and another has been barred from leaving Peru. All deny wrongdoing.
Duberli Rodriguez, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing, quit his posts as the head of the Supreme Court and the president of the judiciary “because of the institutional crisis that the judiciary is going through,” according to his resignation letter that the judiciary posted on Twitter.