Facing widespread opposition, Peru’s interim president stepped down on Sunday, his sixth day in office, a country already facing an economic tail and a devastating epidemic in the constitutional crisis.
Former president Noel Merino took office on Tuesday, after legislators shocked the nation by voting to remove popular former president Martin Vizcara, and then Congress president Mr Merino was sworn in.
From his first moments in office, Mr. Merino faced opposition from Peruvians who protested and were opposed by prominent political and social leaders, many of whom said they did not recognize Mr. Merino as president.
On Sunday, most of the cabinet resigned and after his last political allies resigned, Congress elected him and he vowed to step down. Mr. Merino noticed.
“I submit my offer of resignation,” Mr Merino told the nation in a video address on Sunday. “I say for peace and unity of all Peruvians.”
Mr Merino said he would now focus on ensuring a smooth transition to a new leader to avoid a power vacuum. Congress announced on Sunday that it would appoint a new president from among the legislators that day.
However, it is not clear whether the Peruvians will accept Mr Merino’s successor as their leader and end the daily protests that have plagued the country. The country’s Congress is deeply unpopular – nearly half of its members are investigating corruption and other crimes – and many have blamed its members ’political opportunism for the current crisis.
A majority of legislators on Monday voted to oust then-President Vizcara after demonstrations in the streets of the capital, Lima, and then in other cities across the country. Removing them, the legislators cited unsubstantiated allegations of corruption and used an archaeological constitutional clause that would have declared Congress incapable of leading the nation morally.
Mr Vizkara was due to step down after the presidential election in April and promised to face justice once he stepped down. He won the support of a majority Peruvian during his two years as president, working to make Peru’s infamous animal political establishment a success.
