Peruvian President Martín Vizcarra Orders Dissolution of Congress Amid Feud With Opposition
01:52 01.10.2019(updated 02:31 01.10.2019)
Peruvian President Martín Vizcarra ordered the dissolution of Congress Monday and called for parliamentary elections after a feud with the country's opposition-run Congress.
"In accordance with the Political Constitution of Peru, I have decided to constitutionally dissolve the Congress and call for congressional elections of the Republic; this is a constitutional act provided for in article 134 of the Constitution," Vizcarra said in a televised message on a national news station.
Vizcarra announced the dissolution of the opposition-led Congress after it elected a new member of the Constitutional Tribunal Monday.
According to Vizcarra's televised statement, the dissolution of Congress and the calling for new elections fall under his constitutional powers, Reuters reported. Opposition lawmakers had tried to hinder Vizcarra's anti-corruption reforms.
Following Vizcarra's announcement, opposition lawmakers have accused Vizcarra of acting against the constitution and threatened to oust him as a result by filing a vacancy motion against Vizcarra in a legislative session.
A video shared on Twitter shows citizens shouting outside the Parliament following Vizcarra's announcement.
The country's constitution dictates that a president can dissolve Congress and call for elections if the Legislature rejects a vote of confidence on two occasions, AP reports. A vote of confidence was also rejected by the Parliament during the administration of Pedro Pablo Kuczynski which ended in March 2018 after Kuczynski. Vizcarra's term is expected to end in 2021.
© Sputnik
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