Andina

Peru President calls off trip to U.S.

Segunda vicepresidenta y congresista, Mercedes Aráoz.

10:53 | Lima, Sep. 15.

Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski called off his planned visit to New York City in the wake of spiking tensions between the Executive Branch and Congress, Second Vice-President Mercedes Araoz announced on Thursday night.

As is known, the Head of State had plans to travel to the United States to participate in the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly. He was then to head to the Vatican City to personally formalize the invitation to Pope Francis to visit the Inca nation.

"The President has had to suspend the trip for the time being. He was due to travel tonight, […] but we are assessing the Congress situation," Araoz said as the Parliament debated a confidence vote requested by Prime Minister Fernando Zavala. 

The said vote was later denied by the opposition-ruled Congress, thus ousting the whole Ministerial Cabinet and pitching the country into political crisis. 

Araoz —who also serves as Congress legislator— underlined the relevance of the said activities, which include UN discussions on global issues such as the North Korean missile tests, Venezuela's situation and measures to face climate change. 

"It is on hold. He did not travel and some activities will have to be canceled. […] I do not know whether he will be able to make it to the United Nations. In the case of the Rome trip with the Pope, it will have to be re-scheduled […]," Araoz concluded. 

(END) JCR/MVF/MVB


Published: 9/15/2017