New Congress Chairman Francisco Sagasti on Monday called on lawmakers to work together with the aim of restoring citizens' trust, with empathy and responsibility.
"Everyone on the Congress Board will do everything possible to restore citizens' hope, to show that they can trust us, to show them that we are responsible by working together," he expressed.
Along with trust, Sagasti offered empathy to feel close to citizens and responsibility over Congress' actions.
He assured that parliamentarians are representatives of citizens, who are anxious, worried, and anguished by the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic crisis, and by not envisioning a way out, a future.
Sagasti specified that —like other legislators— he is convinced the country can move forward by working together.
"Today is not a day of celebration, because we have seen the death of two young people in protests while they were expressing their points of view," he said in this sense.
"We have a joint task ahead of us, to perfect the legal framework in such a way that peaceful protests can take place and, at the same time, we can prevent possible and isolated violent acts that we should not allow in our country," he added.
Once the ceremony was over, escorted by security staff, the new Parliament chairman went to salute demonstrators gathered outside Congress headquarters in Lima.