Peru’s President Kuczynski Resigns Ahead of Impeachment Vote
- Former Wall Street veteran brought down by corruption probes
- First Vice President Martin Vizcarra to be sworn in on Friday
Peruvian former President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, center, waves before leaving the Palace of Government in Lima, after recording a televised message in which he announced his resignation on March 21, 2018.
Photographer: Luka Gonzales/AFP via Getty Images
Peruvian lawmakers began planning the transfer of power to Peru’s first vice president after Pedro Pablo Kuczynski resigned in the face of a second impeachment vote, brought down by the continent-wide Carwash bribery scandal.
Martin Vizcarra will be sworn in Friday after party chiefs meeting in Congress agreed to accept Kuczynski’s resignation, speaker Luis Galarreta told reporters. Vizcarra is expected to arrive in Lima on Thursday, his 55th birthday. He has been serving as Peru’s ambassador to Canada.