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Peru PM: Cabinet changes were already being discussed with President Vizcarra

11:25 | Lima, Feb. 14.

Peruvian Prime Minister Vicente Zeballos on Friday affirmed that the changes in the Ministerial Cabinet had been discussed for some time with President Martin Vizcarra, considering the political scenario emerged after the election of new Congress members last January.

Four new cabinet members were sworn in on Thursday night. The new ministers are: Susana Vilca (Energy and Mines), Fernando Rafael Castañeda (Justice and Human Rights), Carlos Martin Benavides (Education), and Carlos Eduardo Lozada (Transport and Communications).

Those portfolios used to be led by Juan Carlos Liu, Ana Teresa Revilla, Flor Pablo, and Edmer Trujillo, respectively.

Today, the high-ranking official indicated that —following the resignation presented by Juan Carlos Liu to the Energy and Mines post— there was an opportunity to make a change in the Cabinet.

In this sense, he ruled out that these changes were related to the meeting former State Attorney for the Odebrecht Case Jorge Ramirez held with the Brazilian company representatives and former Minister Liu on the issue of the arbitration lawsuit filed before the ICSID.

"We had been evaluating how to strengthen the political lines of the Government before the new Parliament assumes duties, (that is) the new political scenario. We have the legitimate right to resort to a reshuffling. The entry and withdrawal of any minister is a political decision," he indicated

In remarks to RPP, Zeballos said that talks with the President to refresh the Cabinet were held after the extraordinary parliamentary elections (January 26) and that it is the Executive —supported by its powers— the branch that decides the timing for those changes.

"We assumed duties on September 30 as an emergency and transition cabinet. All ministers have worked in a solvent manner. The Executive has every right to reengineer itself with a view to a new scenario, as we already have a new Congress since January 26," he concluded.

As is known, the Executive Branch constitutionally dissolved Congress on September 30 and called for parliamentary elections.

The new 130 legislators will serve the remaining period of the 2016-2021 legislative tenure, following the dissolution of Congress.

They are expected to take up duties once the National Election Board (JNE) has granted them the corresponding credentials.

(END) FHG/MVB

Publicado: 14/2/2020