Andina

Peru PM: Gov't is clear about support for Odebrecht collaboration agreement

10:40 | Lima, Mar. 18.

Prime Minister Salvador del Solar affirmed the Peruvian Government is very clear about the support for the collaboration agreement signed between the Public Ministry and Brazilian company Odebrecht last month.

In Peru, the Public Ministry is independent from the Executive Branch.

According to the high-ranking official, the Public Ministry has promoted an accord that will enable knowing in detail the modus operandi of corruption and how it stole from the Inca country, as well as which officials took Peruvian citizens' money

"Every person in Peru and politics must be aware that we do not want impunity. That cannot be allowed in the agreement," the cabinet chief told Cuarto Poder TV program on Sunday night.

In this sense, he underlined it is a priority to find and sanction the officials who committed crimes, as well as to enable —in the future— clean and efficient public procurements. 

"The President (Martin Vizcarra) has set a good example on what it means to be a citizen: I have my opinion, but I respect the principle of authority, autonomy, and separation of powers (…)," Prime Minister Del Solar expressed. 

Furthermore, the official recalled the Public Ministry's team has worked independently to investigate the Lava Jato case and set the civil reparation amount. 

On the other hand, he mentioned there is an opportunity to organize the country on important matters such as the political-justice reform —which is underway— and the reconstruction of northern Peru

Del Solar went on to add that working on said topics will enable the Inca country to become a different and well-ordered nation by the Independence Bicentennial in 2021.

Odebrecht

As is known, the Brazilian construction giant admitted to having paid millions in bribes to government officials in Peru, in order to secure public-works contracts.

Thus, Odebrecht benefited from over US$143 million between 2005 and 2014 in Peru, according to the U.S. Justice Department. 

In addition, four ex-Presidents have been linked to the Brazilian company such as: Alejandro Toledo (2001-2006), Alan Garcia (2006-2011), Ollanta Humala (2011-2016), and Pedro Pablo Kuczynski (2016-2018)

Former presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori —currently under preventive detention— also allegedly received money from Odebrecht for her 2011 campaign.

(END) VVS/DTK/MVB

Published: 3/18/2019