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

Peru's government won a&nbsp;confidence&nbsp;vote&nbsp;in the country's Congress on Wednesday, reviving&nbsp;debate&nbsp;over&nbsp;President Martin Vizcarra's flagging effort to pass&nbsp;anti-corruption measures.

The president had asked the opposition-controlled Congress for a&nbsp;confidence&nbsp;vote&nbsp;as part of his effort to pressure the legislature into <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/perus-vizcarra-dares-congress-to-oust-cabinet-in-dispute-over-reforms-166235">approving a reform package</a>, including measures aimed at cleaning up campaign financing and curbing the immunity against prosecution enjoyed by lawmakers.

"This&nbsp;vote&nbsp;now implies the beginning of talks with the government," independent legislator Juan Sheput told local television, referring to an expected jump start of negotiations&nbsp;over Vizcarra's&nbsp;anti-corruption program.

The&nbsp;confidence&nbsp;vote&nbsp;passed with 77 in favour, 44 against and three abstentions.&nbsp;Debate&nbsp;on the&nbsp;confidence&nbsp;motion had started on Tuesday and lasted for more than nine hours before resuming on Wednesday.

A&nbsp;vote&nbsp;of no&nbsp;confidence&nbsp;would have triggered the disbanding of the cabinet and allowed Vizcarra to call special legislative elections. The threat triggered cries of "coup" from political enemies who accused him of strong-arming lawmakers.

Vizcarra called for the&nbsp;confidence&nbsp;vote&nbsp;after the opposition&nbsp;voted down or otherwise blocked his reform agenda.

A business-friendly former vice president, Vizcarra took office a little&nbsp;over&nbsp;a year ago after his predecessor resigned in disgrace - one of several politicians entangled in a bribery probe involving Brazilian builder Odebrecht.

Peru's government won a confidence vote in the country's Congress on Wednesday, reviving debate over President Martin Vizcarra's flagging effort to pass anti-corruption measures.

Peru's government won a confidence vote in the country's Congress on Wednesday, reviving debate over President Martin Vizcarra's flagging effort to pass anti-corruption measures. The president had asked the opposition-controlled Congress for a confidence vote as part of his effort to pressure the legislature into approving a reform package, including measures aimed at cleaning up campaign financing and curbing the immunity against prosecution enjoyed by lawmakers. "This vote now implies the beginning of talks with the government," independent legislator Juan Sheput told local television, referring to an expected jump start of negotiations over Vizcarra's anti-corruption program. The confidence vote passed with 77 in favour, 44 against and three abstentions. Debate on the confidence motion had started on Tuesday and lasted for more than nine hours before resuming on Wednesday. A vote of no confidence would have triggered the disbanding of the cabinet and allowed Vizcarra to call special legislative elections. The threat triggered cries of "coup" from political enemies who accused him of strong-arming lawmakers. Vizcarra called for the confidence vote after the opposition voted down or otherwise blocked his reform agenda. A business-friendly former vice president, Vizcarra took office a little over a year ago after his predecessor resigned in disgrace - one of several politicians entangled in a bribery probe involving Brazilian builder Odebrecht.

With confidence vote, Peru revives debate over anti-graft reforms

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Peru's Congress votes to open impeachment proceedings against President

With confidence vote, Peru revives debate over anti-graft reforms