New leader sworn in amid turmoil
LIMA, Peru — Peru swore into office a new president Tuesday who is unknown to most and was recently accused of trying to secure the military’s support for a congressional effort to boot the nation’s last leader out over unproven corruption allegations.
Businessman and former head of Congress Manuel Merino placed his hand on a Bible and swore to carry out the remainder of the current presidential term, which is set to expire in July of next year.
He then donned the red and white presidential sash while wearing a face mask and stood as the nation’s hymn was played.
“This is a difficult moment for the country,” he said. “Today, the country does not look at the future with hope, but with worry.”
Merino’s swearing in was met with anger, resignation and protests on the streets of Peru’s capital a day after Congress voted to oust popular President Martin Vizcarra, who had campaigned against corruption. Peruvians widely distrust legislators and decried Vizcarra’s removal as an overt power grab.
Analysts warn the country could be thrown into a new period of instability at the same time as it grapples with one of the world’s worst coronavirus outbreaks.
“It’s a coup d’etat,” taxi driver Paul Mendoza said. “Now we’re going to have inflation, a recession, and we won’t be able to get ahead because of the pandemic.”
The new president is the country’s third chief of state since 2016; both Vizcarra and his predecessor, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski,
were pushed out by the powerful Congress, where neither managed to secure a majority bloc.
Merino hails from the centerright Popular Action party and is from the province of Tumbes along the country’s border with Ecuador. He served two terms in Congress, the first in 2001, before being elected again this year as part of a new slate of lawmakers voted into office after Vizcarra dismissed Congress in 2019.
Riot police blocked hundreds of protesters against Merino who banged pots and pans as he was sworn into office.