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Peru PM: Executive has submitted early general elections proposal

16:32 | Lima, Jul. 31.

Peruvian Prime Minister Salvador del Solar on Wednesday informed the Executive Branch has submitted to Congress the constitutional reform bill aimed at calling for early elections by 2020.

"Just as the President of the Republic (Martin Vizcarra) had announced during his Address to the Nation on July 28, we have already presented, to Parliament, the bill to cut short the President's as well as lawmakers' term in office," the high-ranking official expressed.

The bill forbids the current Head of State to run for the same post and proposes early general elections.

In this sense, the document was sent to new Congress Chairman Pedro Olaechea, who was asked to urgently assess the initiative.

Likewise, the bill indicates the term in office of the President and Vice-President of Peru would end on July 28, 2020. Meanwhile, lawmakers' and Andean Parliament representatives' tenure would end on July 26, 2020.

The proposal also prohibits presidential reelection.

"The goal of this initiative is to overcome the climate of political tension that has marked this period, by renewing the Executive and Legislative Branches that contribute to the country's institutional strengthening, as well as the economic and social stability in order to lay the foundations for a sustainable growth in the upcoming years," the document reads.

According to the proposal, the general elections would take place on the third Sunday of April 2020.

The initiative will be made official through a constitutional reform to be consulted with citizens via referendum.

Remarks were made after the Council of Ministers' meeting.

Primer ministro, @saldelsol: "El segundo objetivo, como se anunció, es proponer el recorte de este mandato, tanto del presidente como de los congresistas, y también de los representantes al Parlamento Andino, para que termine un año antes. Es decir, para el 28 de julio del 2020". pic.twitter.com/JOhwfRaxO4
— Consejo de Ministros (@pcmperu) July 31, 2019

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 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.

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Published: 7/31/2019

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Peru PM: Executive has submitted early general elections proposal

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