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Peru Minister: Political order needed to continue growing

00:00 | Lima, Aug. 2.

Peruvian Energy and Mines Minister Francisco Ismodes has affirmed that an orderly country is needed in order to continue with economic growth and achieve development.

"What the population demands is for this political crisis to be resolved," the official expressed.

He underlined that President Martin Vizcarra's administration and State ministers work transparently. Thus, a copy of the document from the meeting —in which the Address to the Nation was approved— will be delivered to Congress.

"Together, the ministers have made the decision to request early elections by 2020," Ismodes added.

"What matters the most is that the message the President delivered was supported by the entire cabinet," he stressed.

President proposes early elections

During 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 bill has been recently sent to Congress, where it is expected to be passed. The constitutional reform will have to be approved by citizens via referendum, too.

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.

Congress granted a confidence vote to the administration over the projects on June 5. However, the approved bills had been altered during the debates by legislators.

"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.

President Vizcarra's administration intended to implement reforms to enhance the political-judicial system. Plus, it launched a crusade against corruption.

He took office on March 23, 2018, to replace resigning Pedro Pablo Kuczynski. His term was initially expected to come to an end in 2021.

(END) CNA/DTK/MVB

Published: 8/2/2019

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Peru Minister: Political order needed to continue growing

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