Peru's Congress on Friday voted to open impeachment proceedings against President Martin Vizcarra for "moral incapacity" over accusations he tried to obstruct a corruption probe against government officials.

The motion was approved by 65 votes, with 36 against and 24 abstentions. Fifty-two votes were required to open the proceedings early next week.

To remove the president, who lacks a party, 87 votes are required. After Vizcarra appears in Congress next Friday to defend himself, the plenary will debate and vote.

Six out of nine parties — representing 95 of the 130 seats in Congress — have backed the motion.

"I'm not going to quit. I do not run," Vizcarra said in a televised address ahead of the vote in which he denied any wrongdoing.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-13-killed-in-stampede-as-club-goers-flee-at-sight-of-peru-police-322566">Also read:&nbsp;At least 13 killed in stampede as club goers flee at sight of Peru police&nbsp;</a>

"We are facing a plot against democracy," he said, adding that he had nothing to hide but that lawmakers should act "with caution, with responsibility, and to take the decision they deem necessary."

Vizcarra, in power since 2018, came under fire after leaked audio recordings in which he is heard telling aides to hide details of his office's controversial hiring of a popular singer as a paid cultural advisor.&nbsp;

In the event of impeachment, legislative speaker Manuel Merino will act as interim leader until the current presidential term ends in July 2021.

Vizcarra has won popular support for an anti-corruption crusade that has put him at loggerheads with opponents in Congress, including over a reform banning convicted criminals from standing for election.

The impeachment motion is reminiscent of the one that forced the resignation of his predecessor Pedro Pablo Kuczynski in 2018, after he became embroiled in the Odebrecht bribes scandal.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/peru-says-over-900-girls-women-feared-dead-since-pandemic-began-316453">Also read: Peru says over 900 girls, women feared dead since pandemic began</a>

It comes as the country is in the throes of an economic crisis triggered by the coronavirus pandemic, which has seen Peru's second-quarter GDP slashed by 30 per cent.

"The dismissal is very dangerous in these circumstances," political analyst Fernando Rospigliosi told AFP, warning against a change of government in the middle of a crisis and with only seven months to go until a general election.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Walter Martos on Friday denounced the move against the president.&nbsp;

"What Congress is doing right now is to stage a coup d'etat, because it is making an arbitrary interpretation of the Constitution," Martos, a retired army general and number two in the government, told radio RPP.

The case exploded in May when the press discovered that, at the height of the pandemic, the Ministry of Culture had hired singer Richard Cisneros, a little-known local artist who boasted in the media that he had been an advisor to the government, as a speaker and entertainer.&nbsp;

Parliament opened an investigation into the alleged irregular contracts for which Cisneros received $10,000.

Peru's Congress on Friday voted to open impeachment proceedings against President Martin Vizcarra for "moral incapacity" over accusations he tried to obstruct a corruption probe against government officials.

Peru's Congress on Friday voted to open impeachment proceedings against President Martin Vizcarra for "moral incapacity" over accusations he tried to obstruct a corruption probe against government officials. The motion was approved by 65 votes, with 36 against and 24 abstentions. Fifty-two votes were required to open the proceedings early next week. To remove the president, who lacks a party, 87 votes are required. After Vizcarra appears in Congress next Friday to defend himself, the plenary will debate and vote. Six out of nine parties — representing 95 of the 130 seats in Congress — have backed the motion. "I'm not going to quit. I do not run," Vizcarra said in a televised address ahead of the vote in which he denied any wrongdoing. Also read: At least 13 killed in stampede as club goers flee at sight of Peru police "We are facing a plot against democracy," he said, adding that he had nothing to hide but that lawmakers should act "with caution, with responsibility, and to take the decision they deem necessary." Vizcarra, in power since 2018, came under fire after leaked audio recordings in which he is heard telling aides to hide details of his office's controversial hiring of a popular singer as a paid cultural advisor. In the event of impeachment, legislative speaker Manuel Merino will act as interim leader until the current presidential term ends in July 2021. Vizcarra has won popular support for an anti-corruption crusade that has put him at loggerheads with opponents in Congress, including over a reform banning convicted criminals from standing for election. The impeachment motion is reminiscent of the one that forced the resignation of his predecessor Pedro Pablo Kuczynski in 2018, after he became embroiled in the Odebrecht bribes scandal. Also read: Peru says over 900 girls, women feared dead since pandemic began It comes as the country is in the throes of an economic crisis triggered by the coronavirus pandemic, which has seen Peru's second-quarter GDP slashed by 30 per cent. "The dismissal is very dangerous in these circumstances," political analyst Fernando Rospigliosi told AFP, warning against a change of government in the middle of a crisis and with only seven months to go until a general election. Prime Minister Walter Martos on Friday denounced the move against the president. "What Congress is doing right now is to stage a coup d'etat, because it is making an arbitrary interpretation of the Constitution," Martos, a retired army general and number two in the government, told radio RPP. The case exploded in May when the press discovered that, at the height of the pandemic, the Ministry of Culture had hired singer Richard Cisneros, a little-known local artist who boasted in the media that he had been an advisor to the government, as a speaker and entertainer. Parliament opened an investigation into the alleged irregular contracts for which Cisneros received $10,000.

Peru's Congress votes to open impeachment proceedings against President

A Peruvian court ordered former president Alberto Fujimori today to stand trial for the 1992 killings of six farmers, arguing that he lacks immunity despite a recent pardon for a different crime.

The National Criminal Court said the pardon granted to Fujimori in a human rights case for which he was serving a 25-year sentence did not apply to the murders of the group.

Prosecutors asked to try the ex-president and 22 others for the death squad killings.

Fujimori, 79, was pardoned by the current Peruvian president, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, on December 24 on humanitarian grounds because of ill health.

The former leader had been serving a sentence for crimes that included commanding death squads that killed suspected civilian sympathizers of left-wing guerrillas that his regime was fighting.

The pardon triggered street protests in Peru and was slammed by international rights groups as a blow in the struggle against impunity.

Kuczynskis pardon was seen by many as quid pro quo for help from Fujimoris lawmaker son Kenji days earlier in beating an impeachment vote in Congress over alleged corruption.&nbsp;

The National Criminal Court said the pardon granted to Fujimori in a human rights case for which he was serving a 25-year sentence did not apply to the murders of the group

A Peruvian court ordered former president Alberto Fujimori today to stand trial for the 1992 killings of six farmers, arguing that he lacks immunity despite a recent pardon for a different crime. The National Criminal Court said the pardon granted to Fujimori in a human rights case for which he was serving a 25-year sentence did not apply to the murders of the group. Prosecutors asked to try the ex-president and 22 others for the death squad killings. Fujimori, 79, was pardoned by the current Peruvian president, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, on December 24 on humanitarian grounds because of ill health. The former leader had been serving a sentence for crimes that included commanding death squads that killed suspected civilian sympathizers of left-wing guerrillas that his regime was fighting. The pardon triggered street protests in Peru and was slammed by international rights groups as a blow in the struggle against impunity. Kuczynskis pardon was seen by many as quid pro quo for help from Fujimoris lawmaker son Kenji days earlier in beating an impeachment vote in Congress over alleged corruption.

Peru court orders Fujimori tried for 1992 mass killing: Official

Peru&#39;s recently-pardoned former authoritarian leader Alberto Fujimori left a hospital as a free man for the first time in 12 years on Thursday, waving to his supporters from a wheelchair before entering a car with his lawmaker son Kenji.

Fujimori, whose Christmas Eve pardon from President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski has polarized Peru, was trailed by police cars and news cameras as he arrived at a house in the upscale district of La Molina. In a snapshot shared on social media, Fujimori was seen with his four adult children in a garden.

Smiling in a jacket and blue shirt, Fujimori, 79, appeared aware of his surroundings as he greeted crowds of journalists and supporters outside the Japanese-Peruvian Centenario Clinic where he was interned on Dec 23 for emergency blood-pressure and heart treatment.

A corrupt dictator to some and a misunderstood hero to others, Fujimori was serving a 25-year sentence for graft and human rights crimes during his 1990-2000 rightwing populist government.

Kuczynski pardoned Fujimori because of his ill health.

&quot;To the joy of many Peruvians, today Alberto Fujimori is free,&quot; Fujimori`s doctor Alejandro Aguinaga said on local TV channel Canal N, adding that his patient was still recovering from a serious heart problem.

Kuczynski`s decision to pardon Fujimori triggered unrest and a series of political investigations that have shaken his already-weak center-right government. While Kuczynski hopes the pardon will break the main opposition party`s grip on Congress, it has also cost him the support from the left and center and he has yet to reveal the new Cabinet he promised a week ago.

Fujimori signaled from his hospital bed last week that he would not use his freedom to return to politics, but his loyalists have called for him to be an advisor to the rightwing political party, Popular Force, that has a majority of seats in Congress.

&quot;There`s nothing wrong with receiving advice from him, or counting on his support or counsel for a future presidential candidate,&quot; Popular Force lawmaker Maritza Garcia told Reuters last week. &quot;Because of his health he can`t lead the party, but he can direct it from his bed or wheelchair.&quot;

Garcia is one of 10 lawmakers led by Kenji who broke ranks with Popular Force to defeat a motion to oust Kuczynski late last month in the wake of a corruption scandal after Fujimori called on them to put the stability of the country first by supporting Kuczynski.

Representatives for Kuczynski and Fujimori have denied that the pardon was political payback in an under-the-table deal, and have defended the pardon on medical and humanitarian grounds.

Fujimori`s daughter Keiko, the official leader of Popular Force, has had a hostile relationship with Kuczynski since narrowly losing the 2016 election to him and has criticized her brother Kenji for supporting Kuczynski`s government.&nbsp;

Keiko`s supporters in Popular Force had led calls to oust Kuczynski in the wake of a graft scandal. Some political analysts in Peru have predicted that Fujimori might end the political rivalry between Keiko and Kenji.&nbsp;

Fujimori was serving a 25-year sentence for graft and human rights crimes during his 1990-2000 rightwing populist government.

Peru's recently-pardoned former authoritarian leader Alberto Fujimori left a hospital as a free man for the first time in 12 years on Thursday, waving to his supporters from a wheelchair before entering a car with his lawmaker son Kenji. Fujimori, whose Christmas Eve pardon from President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski has polarized Peru, was trailed by police cars and news cameras as he arrived at a house in the upscale district of La Molina. In a snapshot shared on social media, Fujimori was seen with his four adult children in a garden. Smiling in a jacket and blue shirt, Fujimori, 79, appeared aware of his surroundings as he greeted crowds of journalists and supporters outside the Japanese-Peruvian Centenario Clinic where he was interned on Dec 23 for emergency blood-pressure and heart treatment. A corrupt dictator to some and a misunderstood hero to others, Fujimori was serving a 25-year sentence for graft and human rights crimes during his 1990-2000 rightwing populist government. Kuczynski pardoned Fujimori because of his ill health. "To the joy of many Peruvians, today Alberto Fujimori is free," Fujimori`s doctor Alejandro Aguinaga said on local TV channel Canal N, adding that his patient was still recovering from a serious heart problem. Kuczynski`s decision to pardon Fujimori triggered unrest and a series of political investigations that have shaken his already-weak center-right government. While Kuczynski hopes the pardon will break the main opposition party`s grip on Congress, it has also cost him the support from the left and center and he has yet to reveal the new Cabinet he promised a week ago. Fujimori signaled from his hospital bed last week that he would not use his freedom to return to politics, but his loyalists have called for him to be an advisor to the rightwing political party, Popular Force, that has a majority of seats in Congress. "There`s nothing wrong with receiving advice from him, or counting on his support or counsel for a future presidential candidate," Popular Force lawmaker Maritza Garcia told Reuters last week. "Because of his health he can`t lead the party, but he can direct it from his bed or wheelchair." Garcia is one of 10 lawmakers led by Kenji who broke ranks with Popular Force to defeat a motion to oust Kuczynski late last month in the wake of a corruption scandal after Fujimori called on them to put the stability of the country first by supporting Kuczynski. Representatives for Kuczynski and Fujimori have denied that the pardon was political payback in an under-the-table deal, and have defended the pardon on medical and humanitarian grounds. Fujimori`s daughter Keiko, the official leader of Popular Force, has had a hostile relationship with Kuczynski since narrowly losing the 2016 election to him and has criticized her brother Kenji for supporting Kuczynski`s government. Keiko`s supporters in Popular Force had led calls to oust Kuczynski in the wake of a graft scandal. Some political analysts in Peru have predicted that Fujimori might end the political rivalry between Keiko and Kenji.

Peru's pardoned Fujimori leaves clinic, starts life as free man

Peru`s President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski could end up the surprise winner of an attempt to oust him from power this week, after some opposition lawmakers broke ranks with party leaders to support him, opening a divide that might strengthen his hand.

Despite having a Congressional majority, the rightwing opposition party Popular Force was unable to push through a motion to remove Kuczynski from office on Thursday, after 10 of its own lawmakers broke ranks to save the president.

The vote cemented a growing divide in the opposition and looked to threaten its control over Congress, potentially aiding Kuczynski as he tries to restore political stability and revive investments in one of Latin America`s most robust economies.

The surprise defection was the result of a deal struck between Kuczynski and Popular Force rebel lawmaker Kenji Fujimori to get his father and ex-president Alberto Fujimori out of prison, alleged Popular Force secretary general, Jose Chlimper.

Over the past year, Kenji has courted Kuczynski`s centre-right government while challenging his sister Keiko`s leadership of the rightwing populist movement that their father formed in the 1990s.

In defiance of his sister, Kenji threw his support behind Kuczynski ahead of the vote on whether to remove him from office over unproven graft allegations. Nine other Popular Force lawmakers followed his lead.

&quot;This is the birth of a serious and formal split (in the Fujimori movement),&quot; said Guillermo Loli, the head of political research for pollster Ipsos Peru.

&quot;Everything points to a pardon,&quot; he added.&nbsp;

Kuczynski`s government denied that a pardon for Fujimori was part of its political negotiations.

In an address to the nation late on Friday, Kuczynski said he would spend the coming days reflecting on his year and a half in office. &quot;I`ll be announcing to you changes to make sure 2018 is not just a year of greater growth, but politically different,&quot; Kuczynski said.

TRAITORS 
&nbsp;

Efforts to reach the Popular Force lawmakers who defected were not successful. One, Clayton Galvan, said on local TV channel Canal N that Alberto Fujimori called them from prison to ask them to help Kuczynski stay in power.&nbsp;

Alberto Fujimori, who is serving a 25-year sentence for graft and human rights crimes, is a deeply divisive figure in Peru. While many consider him a corrupt dictator, others credit him with ending an economic crisis and bloody leftist insurgency during his 1990-2000 term.

Freeing him would likely anger the well-organized foes of the Fujimori clan - a mix of technocrats, leftists, human rights activists and academics.

&quot;The day (Kuczynski) signs a pardon, he loses all of those guys. Permanently,&quot; said Harvard University political scientist Steve Levitsky.

Support from the anti-Fujimori crowd was key to Kuczynski`s razor-thin victory over Keiko in last year`s presidential election, and to keeping the motion to oust him from succeeding.

&quot;Kuczynski was saved by two diametrically opposed political groups: Kenji`s group and the left, which opposes a pardon. He can`t please both of them,&quot; said Levitsky.

Kuczynski, a 79-year-old former investment banker, took office amid hopes he would usher in cleaner government and faster economic growth. Instead, a graft scandal roiling Latin America has stalled investments and ensnared him in allegations of wrongdoing.

Before the vote on Thursday, Kuczynski fanned fears of a return to Peru`s authoritarian past and described the motion as part of a legislative &quot;coup&quot; attempt by Keiko`s supporters.

Popular Force denies the charge and says the bid to remove him was part of its fight against corruption and within the bounds of the constitution.

A hardline Popular Force lawmaker loyal to Keiko, Hector Becerril, said the Kenji faction represented &quot;traitors.&quot;&nbsp;

&quot;If they have any sense of decency after this vote, the least they could do is present their resignations,&quot; Becerril told journalists on Friday. &quot;Hopefully today.&quot;

With 10 votes fewer, Popular Force would command 61 seats in the 130-member, single-chamber Congress, less than an absolute majority, though it would still be the biggest voting bloc.

The political crisis has cost Kuczynski his interior minister, Carlos Basombrio, who announced his resignation on Friday. Kuczynski could make a decision about other Cabinet changes in coming days, his government said.&nbsp;

Despite having a Congressional majority, the rightwing opposition party Popular Force was unable to push through a motion to remove Kuczynski from office on Thursday, after 10 of its own lawmakers broke ranks to save the president

Peru`s President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski could end up the surprise winner of an attempt to oust him from power this week, after some opposition lawmakers broke ranks with party leaders to support him, opening a divide that might strengthen his hand. Despite having a Congressional majority, the rightwing opposition party Popular Force was unable to push through a motion to remove Kuczynski from office on Thursday, after 10 of its own lawmakers broke ranks to save the president. The vote cemented a growing divide in the opposition and looked to threaten its control over Congress, potentially aiding Kuczynski as he tries to restore political stability and revive investments in one of Latin America`s most robust economies. The surprise defection was the result of a deal struck between Kuczynski and Popular Force rebel lawmaker Kenji Fujimori to get his father and ex-president Alberto Fujimori out of prison, alleged Popular Force secretary general, Jose Chlimper. Over the past year, Kenji has courted Kuczynski`s centre-right government while challenging his sister Keiko`s leadership of the rightwing populist movement that their father formed in the 1990s. In defiance of his sister, Kenji threw his support behind Kuczynski ahead of the vote on whether to remove him from office over unproven graft allegations. Nine other Popular Force lawmakers followed his lead. "This is the birth of a serious and formal split (in the Fujimori movement)," said Guillermo Loli, the head of political research for pollster Ipsos Peru. "Everything points to a pardon," he added. Kuczynski`s government denied that a pardon for Fujimori was part of its political negotiations. In an address to the nation late on Friday, Kuczynski said he would spend the coming days reflecting on his year and a half in office. "I`ll be announcing to you changes to make sure 2018 is not just a year of greater growth, but politically different," Kuczynski said. TRAITORS Efforts to reach the Popular Force lawmakers who defected were not successful. One, Clayton Galvan, said on local TV channel Canal N that Alberto Fujimori called them from prison to ask them to help Kuczynski stay in power. Alberto Fujimori, who is serving a 25-year sentence for graft and human rights crimes, is a deeply divisive figure in Peru. While many consider him a corrupt dictator, others credit him with ending an economic crisis and bloody leftist insurgency during his 1990-2000 term. Freeing him would likely anger the well-organized foes of the Fujimori clan - a mix of technocrats, leftists, human rights activists and academics. "The day (Kuczynski) signs a pardon, he loses all of those guys. Permanently," said Harvard University political scientist Steve Levitsky. Support from the anti-Fujimori crowd was key to Kuczynski`s razor-thin victory over Keiko in last year`s presidential election, and to keeping the motion to oust him from succeeding. "Kuczynski was saved by two diametrically opposed political groups: Kenji`s group and the left, which opposes a pardon. He can`t please both of them," said Levitsky. Kuczynski, a 79-year-old former investment banker, took office amid hopes he would usher in cleaner government and faster economic growth. Instead, a graft scandal roiling Latin America has stalled investments and ensnared him in allegations of wrongdoing. Before the vote on Thursday, Kuczynski fanned fears of a return to Peru`s authoritarian past and described the motion as part of a legislative "coup" attempt by Keiko`s supporters. Popular Force denies the charge and says the bid to remove him was part of its fight against corruption and within the bounds of the constitution. A hardline Popular Force lawmaker loyal to Keiko, Hector Becerril, said the Kenji faction represented "traitors." "If they have any sense of decency after this vote, the least they could do is present their resignations," Becerril told journalists on Friday. "Hopefully today." With 10 votes fewer, Popular Force would command 61 seats in the 130-member, single-chamber Congress, less than an absolute majority, though it would still be the biggest voting bloc. The political crisis has cost Kuczynski his interior minister, Carlos Basombrio, who announced his resignation on Friday. Kuczynski could make a decision about other Cabinet changes in coming days, his government said.

Failed vote to oust president divides Peru

Former Wall Street banker Pedro Pablo Kuczynski was inaugurated as Peru&#39;s new president yesterday, vowing to kick-start the economy and unite a country torn by a photo-finish election. 
 
The 77-year-old centre-right economist extended an olive branch to defeated rival Keiko Fujimori&#39;s party, which controls Congress, saying he would need their help to pass reforms. 
 
He promised to work for all Peruvians, outlining his vision for a &quot;social revolution&quot; in his inaugural address before Congress. 
 
&quot;I will seek equity, equality and fraternity among all Peruvians,&quot; said the man known simply as PPK. 
 
Peru needs &quot;not just economic, but human growth,&quot; he said, vowing to extend basic services such as schools, hospitals and drinking water to the one-third of Peruvians who lack them. 
 
The normally staid Kuczynski, who is known as a technocrat with a stellar resume, choked up as he took the oath of office, then donned his new red and white presidential sash over his pinstriped suit. 
 
Peru is one of Latin America&#39;s fastest growing economies, but growth slowed under outgoing leftist president Ollanta Humala, from 6.5 per cent in 2011 to 3.3 percent last year. 
 
Kuczynski vowed to stimulate the economy, revive the key mining sector, fight the poverty that affects 22 per cent of Peruvians, crack down on corruption, and strengthen the police and prisons to reduce crime. 
 
The Fujimori problem 
 
Foreign investors and markets have welcomed the new president as a reliable pair of hands. 
 
&quot;Kuczynski&#39;s government is likely to remain highly supportive of foreign investment, with minimalist state intervention,&quot; said Diego Moya-Ocampos of consultancy IHS Country Risk. 
 
He predicted Kuczynski would seek to expand Peru&#39;s domestic refining and smelting capacity, and pointed out that his first scheduled trip is to China - which he called a key player in the president&#39;s strategy to make Peru a &quot;metallurgical powerhouse.&quot; 
 
But a large bump is lurking in the road.&nbsp;Kuczynski&#39;s party, the centre-right Peruvians for Change, has just 18 seats in the 130-member Congress. 
 
The new legislature is dominated by allies of Fujimori, the daughter of disgraced and jailed ex-president Alberto Fujimori.&nbsp;Her right-wing party, Popular Force, has 73 lawmakers in Congress. 
 
None of them applauded at any point during the inauguration, Kuczynski&#39;s camp complained.&nbsp;It could prove tough for the new president to advance his reform agenda. 
 
There may be lingering bad blood from the election. Fujimori took five days to concede as results trickled in from the remote reaches of the Peruvian Amazon. 
 
In the end she had little choice but to recognise defeat, by less than a quarter of a percentage point. 
 
The race opened old wounds dating back to the 1990s, when Fujimori&#39;s father was president. 
 
Now serving a 25-year prison sentence for massacres by an army death squad, Alberto Fujimori (1990-2000) is fondly remembered by some Peruvians for his populist streak, his ruthless crackdown on the leftist rebel group Shining Path and his management of a strong economy. 
 
But his authoritarian legacy was also heavy baggage for his daughter. 
 
Her 78-year-old father&#39;s supporters are now pressuring Kuczynski to pardon him. 
 
The president-elect has said he is willing to sign a law granting house arrest to elderly and ailing prisoners such as Fujimori, but will not issue a pardon. 
 
&#39;El Gringo&#39; 
 
Kuczynski, the son of a Jewish doctor who fled Nazi Germany, has had a long career in business and finance. 
 
Educated at Oxford University and Princeton, he has an impressive resume including stints as economy minister and a World Bank economist. 
 
He stressed his age and experience during the campaign. 
 
&quot;I&#39;m old, but my noggin is still working,&quot; he said.&nbsp;But he sometimes struggles to connect with ordinary Peruvians. 
 
He speaks Spanish with an American accent, betraying his long years in the United States. Some Peruvians call him &quot;El Gringo.&quot; 
 
Seeking to lighten the burden of his outsider status, he donned a traditional multicolored woolly hat at campaign rallies, played the flute and trotted out his mascot, a man-sized guinea pig - a symbol of Peru. 
 
(AFP)

The Pedro Kuczynski choked as he took the oath of office. He vowed to kick-start the economy and bring about a social revolution

Former Wall Street banker Pedro Pablo Kuczynski was inaugurated as Peru's new president yesterday, vowing to kick-start the economy and unite a country torn by a photo-finish election. The 77-year-old centre-right economist extended an olive branch to defeated rival Keiko Fujimori's party, which controls Congress, saying he would need their help to pass reforms. He promised to work for all Peruvians, outlining his vision for a "social revolution" in his inaugural address before Congress. "I will seek equity, equality and fraternity among all Peruvians," said the man known simply as PPK. Peru needs "not just economic, but human growth," he said, vowing to extend basic services such as schools, hospitals and drinking water to the one-third of Peruvians who lack them. The normally staid Kuczynski, who is known as a technocrat with a stellar resume, choked up as he took the oath of office, then donned his new red and white presidential sash over his pinstriped suit. Peru is one of Latin America's fastest growing economies, but growth slowed under outgoing leftist president Ollanta Humala, from 6.5 per cent in 2011 to 3.3 percent last year. Kuczynski vowed to stimulate the economy, revive the key mining sector, fight the poverty that affects 22 per cent of Peruvians, crack down on corruption, and strengthen the police and prisons to reduce crime. The Fujimori problem Foreign investors and markets have welcomed the new president as a reliable pair of hands. "Kuczynski's government is likely to remain highly supportive of foreign investment, with minimalist state intervention," said Diego Moya-Ocampos of consultancy IHS Country Risk. He predicted Kuczynski would seek to expand Peru's domestic refining and smelting capacity, and pointed out that his first scheduled trip is to China - which he called a key player in the president's strategy to make Peru a "metallurgical powerhouse." But a large bump is lurking in the road. Kuczynski's party, the centre-right Peruvians for Change, has just 18 seats in the 130-member Congress. The new legislature is dominated by allies of Fujimori, the daughter of disgraced and jailed ex-president Alberto Fujimori. Her right-wing party, Popular Force, has 73 lawmakers in Congress. None of them applauded at any point during the inauguration, Kuczynski's camp complained. It could prove tough for the new president to advance his reform agenda. There may be lingering bad blood from the election. Fujimori took five days to concede as results trickled in from the remote reaches of the Peruvian Amazon. In the end she had little choice but to recognise defeat, by less than a quarter of a percentage point. The race opened old wounds dating back to the 1990s, when Fujimori's father was president. Now serving a 25-year prison sentence for massacres by an army death squad, Alberto Fujimori (1990-2000) is fondly remembered by some Peruvians for his populist streak, his ruthless crackdown on the leftist rebel group Shining Path and his management of a strong economy. But his authoritarian legacy was also heavy baggage for his daughter. Her 78-year-old father's supporters are now pressuring Kuczynski to pardon him. The president-elect has said he is willing to sign a law granting house arrest to elderly and ailing prisoners such as Fujimori, but will not issue a pardon. 'El Gringo' Kuczynski, the son of a Jewish doctor who fled Nazi Germany, has had a long career in business and finance. Educated at Oxford University and Princeton, he has an impressive resume including stints as economy minister and a World Bank economist. He stressed his age and experience during the campaign. "I'm old, but my noggin is still working," he said. But he sometimes struggles to connect with ordinary Peruvians. He speaks Spanish with an American accent, betraying his long years in the United States. Some Peruvians call him "El Gringo." Seeking to lighten the burden of his outsider status, he donned a traditional multicolored woolly hat at campaign rallies, played the flute and trotted out his mascot, a man-sized guinea pig - a symbol of Peru. (AFP)

Former Wall Street banker Kuczynski sworn in as Peruvian president

Centrist Peruvian President-elect Pedro Pablo Kuczynski will appoint Fernando Zavala, the outgoing chief executive of a beer company, to be his prime minister when he takes office on July 28, a source said on Friday. 
 
Zavala, a 45-year-old trained economist, has headed Peru&#39;s biggest brewery, Union de Cervecerias Peruanas Backus Y Johnston SAA, for the past three years. He was finance minister for a year starting in 2005 when Kuczynski served as prime minister under then-president Alejandro Toledo. 
 
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because an official announcement has not yet been made, said Zavala had accepted Kuczynski&#39;s offer. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s mentioned but is not confirmed,&quot; Kuczynski told reporters in response, according to newspaper El Comercio. 
 
Kuczynski&#39;s office did not respond to requests for comment.&nbsp;Kuczynski has said he will announce his pick for prime minister on Sunday and other Cabinet positions on July 15.&nbsp;Zavala did not respond to a request for confirmation. 
 
Zavala, a widely respected business leader who has blogged about his desire to improve education and innovation, might help Kuczynski patch up rifts with the conservative party of his defeated run-off rival Keiko Fujimori, Popular Force, which will hold a majority of seats in the incoming Congress. 
 
&quot;I personally have a very high opinion of Zavala,&quot; said Luz Salgado, a Popular Force lawmaker. &quot;I think he is much more coherent&quot; than Kuczynski. 
 
Kuczynski, a 77-year-old former investment banker, came under fire on Friday for calling for a march on Congress to help him press opposition lawmakers to reopen a polymetallic smelter, part of his plans to add value to Peru&#39;s key mineral exports. 
 
Kuczynski and Zavala worked together closely in Toledo&#39;s Cabinet for three years when Zavala was deputy economy minister and Kuczynski finance minister. 
 
Backus, as the beer company is known, is a subsidiary of SABMiller, which is in the process of being acquired by Anheuser-Busch Inbev. 
 
(Reuters)

An official announcement has not yet been made, but a source said that Fernando Zavala had accepted Pedro Pablo Kuczynski's offer

Centrist Peruvian President-elect Pedro Pablo Kuczynski will appoint Fernando Zavala, the outgoing chief executive of a beer company, to be his prime minister when he takes office on July 28, a source said on Friday. Zavala, a 45-year-old trained economist, has headed Peru's biggest brewery, Union de Cervecerias Peruanas Backus Y Johnston SAA, for the past three years. He was finance minister for a year starting in 2005 when Kuczynski served as prime minister under then-president Alejandro Toledo. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because an official announcement has not yet been made, said Zavala had accepted Kuczynski's offer. "It's mentioned but is not confirmed," Kuczynski told reporters in response, according to newspaper El Comercio. Kuczynski's office did not respond to requests for comment. Kuczynski has said he will announce his pick for prime minister on Sunday and other Cabinet positions on July 15. Zavala did not respond to a request for confirmation. Zavala, a widely respected business leader who has blogged about his desire to improve education and innovation, might help Kuczynski patch up rifts with the conservative party of his defeated run-off rival Keiko Fujimori, Popular Force, which will hold a majority of seats in the incoming Congress. "I personally have a very high opinion of Zavala," said Luz Salgado, a Popular Force lawmaker. "I think he is much more coherent" than Kuczynski. Kuczynski, a 77-year-old former investment banker, came under fire on Friday for calling for a march on Congress to help him press opposition lawmakers to reopen a polymetallic smelter, part of his plans to add value to Peru's key mineral exports. Kuczynski and Zavala worked together closely in Toledo's Cabinet for three years when Zavala was deputy economy minister and Kuczynski finance minister. Backus, as the beer company is known, is a subsidiary of SABMiller, which is in the process of being acquired by Anheuser-Busch Inbev. (Reuters)

Peru president-elect to name beer company CEO as PM