Peru President Wins Confidence Vote Over Corruption Reform

Lima, June 5 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th Jun, 2019 ) :Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra scored a major victory for his government's anti-corruption policies Wednesday, winning a vote of confidence in the opposition-held Congress as the country seeks to emerge from the shadow of Latin America's biggest graft scandal.

The president sought the vote after threatening to dissolve Congress and force new legislative elections unless lawmakers backed his anti-graft proposals.

Vizcarra -- who succeeded the disgraced Pedro Pablo Kuczynski a year ago -- won by 77 votes to 44 with three abstentions, Congress speaker Daniel Salaverry announced.

"The course we have plotted continues. We continue working and putting Peru first, as always," Vizcarra said in a tweet after the vote.

The government is now expected to begin negotiations with the opposition over introducing the anti-corruption reforms.

They range from cleaning up campaign financing, limiting immunity from prosecution that lawmakers enjoy, and blocking those convicted in court from running for elected office.

Prime Minister Salvador del Solar defended the proposed reforms on Tuesday at the start of a 15-hour confidence debate that resumed early on Wednesday.

"It is urgent to save democracy from corruption. It is urgent to prevent people who are guilty of criminal offenses from representing us.

"We have to encourage citizens with a vocation to participate in politics, so that Peruvians can trust the authorities," he said.