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The President of Peru, Manuel Merino, announced his resignation on Sunday five days after taking office, amid massive protests against him and after Congress exhorted him to resign under threat of removing him anyway.
(Also read: Peruvian Congress meets and evaluates Merino’s resignation to the Presidency)
“I want to acknowledge the entire country that I am resigning,” Merino declared in a message to the country on television, which It sparked a celebration in the streets of Lima, the day after the violent repression of protests that left two dead and a hundred injured.
I want to acknowledge the entire country that I have submitted my resignation
Congress must now appoint a new president to pacify the country. The chosen one will be the third president in less than a week, in a nation hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic and economic recession, which plunged into a political crisis when Parliament he dismissed popular President Martín Vizcarra in a whirlwind trial on Monday.
(Also: Peru, a country in political crisis with three presidents since 2016)
Merino said that so that there is no “power vacuum”, the 18 ministers he was sworn in on Thursday will remain in their posts temporarily, although practically all had resigned after the repression of the protesters on Saturday.
Demonstrators participated in a massive protest march against the new government of President Manuel Merino in Plaza San Martín de Lima.
The role of the Peruvian Congress
This Sunday, the leaders of the Peruvian Congress began an emergency meeting to seek a way out of the political crisis that they themselves unleashed when they dismissed President Martín Vizcarra six days ago and put in his place the parliamentary head Manuel Merino.
Given the events that occurred in recent days, they asked Merino to resign immediately to pacify the country, after the repression of mass protests that left two dead and a hundred injured on Saturday. (You may be interested: More than 15,000 Peruvians marched to reject the interim government)
Protesters participate in a massive protest march against the new government of President Manuel Merino, in front of the Palace of Justice in Lima.
The fleeting ruler announced his resignation shortly after noon (17h00 GMT), so Congress will designate his successor – chosen from among the parliamentarians – in a session called for 6:00 p.m. (11:00 p.m. GMT), which implies that for about six hours Peru will not have a president.
We have agreed to urge the President of the Republic, Manuel Merino to present his letter of resignation from the presidency of Peru
“In a meeting of spokesmen (leaders of the nine benches) we have agreed to urge the President of the Republic, Manuel Merino, to present his letter of resignation to the presidency of Peru,” said the head of Parliament, Luis Valdez. Who warned him that if he did not resign before 6:00 p.m. local time (11:00 p.m. GMT), Congress would initiate “a process of censorship” that will lead to the removal of the Peruvian president.
As soon as Merino made the announcement, the streets of Lima were filled with protesters banging pans and shouting slogans, in a boisterous celebration.
More related news
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Peru’s justice prohibits ex-president Vizcarra from leaving the country
Amid protests, Merino takes over as president of Peru
AFP
