Another Presidential Crisis

By Scott Morgan

In Politics it has been said that a week lasts for an eternity. For the people in Peru the week of November 9th and the roller coaster it provided they can honestly say "Been There Done That".

During that time frame the Country went through 3 Presidents. One would be impeached with another resigning after days of protest. The Country is in the hands of another interim President.  It is easy to see why there may be some confusion about the Presidency, However the tale of how Peru got into this position is indeed very interesting.

The week began with Martin Vizcarra as President. He was impeached on November 9th by Congress for "moral incapacity". This term which is vaguely defined dates back to the 19th Century.  This move was not popular with the population and some experts as they felt that the effort was in fact a coup to remove President Vizcarra. 

He was then replaced by Manuel Merino the President of the Peruvian Congress as mandated by the Constitution. Mr Merino formed a Government that was considered to be right wing in nature and had the support of senior Admirals of the Peruvian Navy. His reign lasted only 5 days before he resigned his office after violent protests led to the deaths of two young men. 

So now Peru has its third President in a week. Francisco Sagasti was elected President of the Congress on November 16th. Due to the current vacancies in both the Offices of the President and of the Vice President Mr. Sagasti is now the interim President of Peru. That is a lot to process with that short of a timeline. 

It is hoped that President Sagasti will have no further issues and be allowed to finish the term of office that President Vizcarra was serving. That term finishes in July of 2021.

There are still some on the street that yearn for a return of President Vizcarra to his office as President of Peru. Will He stand as a candidate in a few months in an effort to regain his office? Time does heal old wounds so it is indeed possible.

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