Peru: President Kuczynski announces resignation March 21 /update 1

Event

Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski offered his resignation on Wednesday, March 21, ahead of an expected impeachment vote on Thursday, March 22. The move comes after video evidence surfaced of Kuczynski's political allies offering state contracts to a lawmaker from the political opposition in exchange for the opposition lawmaker voting against Kuczynski's impeachment.

Trade unions and political organizations had called for demonstrations to be held nationwide on Thursday in opposition to President Kuczynski, coinciding with the scheduled impeachment debate and vote in Congress. The largest demonstration was expected to take place at Plaza San Martín in Lima. It is currently unclear how Kuczynski's resignation announcement will affect the planned protests and impeachment proceedings - namely, if Congress will accept his resignation or still vote to impeach and immediately remove him from office. A heightened security presence and associated transportation disruptions are expected near any protests.

Context

President Kuczynski, who has been accused of accepting bribes from the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht, survived a first impeachment attempt by Congress in December 2017. For his part, Kuczynski has argued that the opposition's unrelenting efforts to remove him from office were tantamount to a coup attempt.

Advice

Individuals in Peru are advised to avoid all large demonstrations as a precaution and allow for additional time to travel in the vicinity of any gatherings.