Peru’s new president broad cabinet as he pushes for unity
Peruvian president Martin Vizcarra will swear in a new cabinet today as he attempts to restore confidence in the government following the resignation of Pedro Pablo Kuzcynski amid corruption allegations.
Emphasising the need for unity, lawmakers in Mr Vizcarra’s right-wing cabinet are expected to hail from across the political spectrum, with centrist Cesar Villanueva to be appointed prime minister. Vizcarra’s primary opposition, Popular Force, which possesses 73 of 130 seats, could also feature in the new cabinet. As Popular Force is similarly right-wing, Peru’s pro-business policies, a mainstay for over three decades, are unlikely to be disrupted.
But Vizcarra’s quest for legislative unity faces considerable obstacles. The president is seen as an outsider among his own party, with some members criticising him as disloyal throughout Kuzcynski’s time as president. Meanwhile, the opposition is increasingly divided by a rivalry between leader Keiko Fujimori and her brother Kenji.
With such divides and little trust among the public in Peruvian politics, Vizcarra faces an uphill task in addressing corruption before his term is up in 2021.
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