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Peru PM: Constitutional Court ratifies Congress' dissolution was constitutional

16:33 | Lima, Jan. 14.

The Constitutional Court (TC) ratified the constitutionality of the dissolution of Congress by declaring unfounded the competency claim filed against it, Prime Minister Vicente Zeballos said on Tuesday.

"An autonomous body —such as the TC— ratifies today the constitutionality of the provisions of September 30 (2019)," the high-ranking official posted on Twitter.

He also expressed his hopes for institutionality and democracy to continue being strengthened, thus rebuilding trust and reaching consensus for the sake of a country offering equality and opportunities to all its citizens.



The court voted by show of hands, with four members in favor of rejecting the appeal submitted by former Congress Chairman —and current Permanent Commission Chair— Pedro Olaechea.

Magistrates Eloy Espinoza-Saldaña, Manuel Miranda, and TC Chairwoman Marianella Ledesma supported the presentation of their peer Carlos Ramos, who backed the dissolution of Congress, saying the vote of confidence to the then-Cabinet led by Salvador del Solar was indeed denied on September 30, 2019.

On the other hand, Ernesto Blume, Augusto Ferrero-Costa, and Jose Luis Sardon voted against Ramos' presentation. To them, the claim should have been declared well founded.

In his speech, magistrate Ramos noted that the Executive Branch was competent to introduce a confidence motion to both propose reforms in the Constitutional Court organic law and postpone the election of the court members.

All this was due to a special political situation that the country was going through.

"The refusal of the confidence —requested by the Executive Branch— was clear given that Congress decided not to suspend such an act," he added.

Today's audience was a public one.

(END) VVS/CVC/MVB

Publicado: 14/1/2020