Spanish leading newspaper El Pais stated that institutional crisis in Peru must be resolved through constitutional rules that support President Vizcarra's decision to dissolve Congress and call legislative elections, so that voters have the last word on the political course the Andean nation should take.
"Peru was experiencing a legislative paralysis as a result of the deadlock caused by Keiko Fujimori-led opposition Popular Force party —the dominant force in Congress— which was further worsened by its attempt to modify the Constitutional Court's composition by appointing magistrates linked to it," the paper stated in its editorial.
Besides, it continued, the pressure of Fujimorismo —supporters of ex-President Alberto Fujimori— to modify the Constitutional Court is explained by the fact that the group's principal leaders are under investigation in serious cases of corruption.
"One of them is Keiko Fujimori, the daughter of Alberto Fujimori, who ruled Peru as a dictator since his self-coup between 1992 and 2000," reads
the article.
The publication recalled that Keiko Fujimori has been under preventive detention since October 2018 for allegedly laundering money —taken as bribes— from Brazilian construction company Odebrecht to fund her 2016 presidential campaign.
"With his decision, President Vizcarra has adhered to what is stated in article 134 of the Peruvian Constitution, which allows him to dissolve Congress and call legislative elections if Parliament denies its confidence to two bills introduced by the Government," it explained.
"This is not a coup d'etat, as Fujimori supporters allege, but a legal and perfectly legitimate way out. However, the move by the opposition does constitute a breakdown of institutions since, although dissolved, Congress voted to suspend President Vizcarra and swore in Vice President Mercedes Araoz."
"The Armed Forces' and National Police's public statement of loyalty to President Vizcarra and the thousands of people who took to the streets all over the country to support the President's decision provides evidence of the unnecessary social unrest triggered by Fujimori supporters' threatening decision to create a dangerous institutional duality in Peru."
(END) RES/RMB
Published: 10/4/2019