President Garcia swears in new justice minister

Peruvian President Alan Garcia Perez on Thursday will swear in Victor Garcia Toma, former head of Peru’s highest court, as the country's new Justice Minister, replacing Aurelio Pastor.

The swearing-in ceremony will take place at noon (local time) at the Government Palace's Golden Hall, the office of the president said in a press release.

President Alan Garcia announced on Wednesday that the former head of Peru’s highest court, Victor Garcia Toma, will be appointed as the country’s new justice minister.

He replaces Aurelio Pastor, who was sacked on Tuesday amid a scandal involving the pardon of 77-year-old former TV mogul Jose Enrique Crousillat.

Garcia Toma said he will focus on improving Peru’s justice system.

“We must begin a strong campaign to improve the justice system. It is a necessity,” state news agency Andina quoted Garcia Toma as saying. “I know we can count on the effort and help from the bodies connected with the system.”

Reactions to Garcia Toma’s appointment by opposition lawmakers was generally positive.

“It is a wonderful decision by the president. We believe that García Toma has all of the characteristics. He is an is an honorable person, impeccable, and he had did a great job in the Constitutional Tribunal, the general secretary of the Peru’s Popular Christian Pary, Raul Castro, said.

“He is a serious and responsible person. I think that he qualifies as the justice minister and we hope he will recover the confidence in the ministry. In general, President Alan Garcia made a good decision,” Carlos Bruce, a lawmaker with the Peru Possible party, was quoted as saying.

Garcia Toma was born on Jun. 2, 1954 in Lima. He received a Masters degree in Constitutional Law from San Martin de Porres University, Peruvian Times reported.

He was the president of Peru’s highest court, the Constitutional Tribunal, from December 2005 to December 2006. More recently, Garcia Toma was the dean of law at the University of Lima, where he also taught constitutional law.

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Publicado: 18/3/2010