President of Peru Martin Vizcarra scored an important victory for his government’s tough anti-corruption policies Wednesday by winning a vote of confidence in the opposition-controlled Congress. According to AFP, he sought the vote after threatening to dissolve Congress and force new legislative elections unless lawmakers backed his anti-graft proposals.
Vizcarra, who succeeded disgraced ex-president Pedro Pablo Kuczynski a year ago, won by 77 votes to 44 with three abstentions, Congress speaker Daniel Salaverry announced.
This spring Vizcarra put forward hundreds of pages of political reforms, many of them target loopholes or workarounds that corrupt politicians utilize. Among the reforms, which are expected to be the focus of congress, are a removal of immunity for lawmakers, campaign finance changes, and a ban from office on those previously convicted of corruption.
«It is urgent to save our democracy from corruption. It is urgent to prevent people who are guilty of criminal offenses from representing us. It is urgent to promote the strengthening of political parties», – prime-minister Salvador Del Solar said on 4 August in support of Vizcarra during the confidence debates.
He added, that the autorities must encourage citizens with a vocation to take part in politics with more activity, so that Peruvians can trust the governement.
