Andina

Peru: Citizens march in favor of holding early general elections

ANDINA/Difusión

01:30 | Lima, Sep. 22.

Carrying a large Peruvian flag, citizens in Lima on Saturday afternoon participated in a demonstration aimed at supporting the early general elections bill proposed by President Martin Vizcarra's administration.

Running under the logo #QueSeVayanTodos (They all must go), demonstrators joined the march convened by civil organizations and associations during the previous days.


The event organizers believe the country is going through a difficult time marked by confrontation between the Executive and Legislative Branches. As is known, Parliament is controlled by a majority led by Keiko Fujimori's Fuerza Popular party.

On this occasion, demonstrators also urged the President to dissolve Congress.


The gathering started at Campo de Marte Park at 3:00 PM (local time). Two hours later, the crowd traveled the streets to finish their tour at Lima's San Martin Square.




President proposes early elections

In his annual Address to the Nation —on the occasion of the country's 198th Independence Anniversary— Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra proposed calling for early general elections by 2020, instead of 2021.

The initiative came as response to the way Parliament handled the political reform bills presented by the Executive Branch to Parliament and submitted to a confidence motion.


"Taking into account that the confidence requested for the reforms has been approved only in words and denied in facts, I have decided —as consequence— to once again put the interests of Peru above all," the Head of State said on that day.

In this sense, the top official underlined that he has traveled across the entire country, noting there is no place in Peru where he has not been asked to dissolve Parliament. 

"Peruvians should be able to choose their destiny to make the way for Peru's Bicentennial (2021). With this action, the foundations of our Republic will be reinforced, even if it means we must all go. Congress members, Peru First!" he pointed out.

"For all the above, I propose a way out of this institutional crisis. I present Congress a constitutional reform for the calling of early general elections, which implies cutting the congressional mandate to July 28, 2020," the highest-ranking official expressed.

"In the same way, in that reform, cutting the presidential mandate to that date is also requested," he added.

Congress has become very unpopular in Peru.

(END) MVB

Published: 9/22/2019