TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Unstable political situation in Peru gets them three presidents a week. The first president, Martin Vizcarra, stepped down last week when the Peruvian Congress decided to impeach him. He was later replaced by Manuel Merino who only worked five days before retreating and was replaced by Francisco Sagasti.
Sagasti’s job as PLT President until the April elections will not be easy. He was charged with the responsibility of mitigating the Peruvian crisis that resulted from the impeachment of Vizcarra. Sagasti also consciously said that his election as President of Peru did not feel like a victory because it happened when the situation in Peru was not conducive, it even claimed lives.
“This is not the right day for celebrations. We cannot bring back those who died in demonstrations. But, we can act from the Congress, from the Executive, so that it doesn’t happen again,” Sagasti said in his inauguration address, quoted by Reuters news agency. , Tuesday, November 16, 2020.
As an illustration, changing the president twice a week is the result of Vizcarra’s policy. Vizcarra, who is popular with Peruvians, is advancing an anti-corruption policy that essentially targets government figures who have received immunity.
MPs are one of the many things Vizcarra wants to erase immunity. However, because Vizcarra did it frontally, the policy he took made the members of parliament nervous. They finally decided to get rid of Vizcarra through a vote of no confidence.
Vizcarra’s replacement, Manuel Merino, was unlucky. Vizcarra’s impeachment sparked riots in Peru. He tried to control the situation and even killed two people. Feeling a failure, Merino resigned which later gave way to Francisco Sagasti of the Morado Party.
Compared to Merino, Sagasti is more accepted by Peruvians. The inauguration of the former World Bank official was greeted with great fanfare by residents in Lima, the capital of Peru. Residents hope he can make a difference.
As the PLT President with a vote of 97 against 26, Sagasti’s task is not only to reduce the situation in Peru. He is also responsible for devising strategies for dealing with impacts COVID-19 to the Peruvian economy. In addition, he must also prepare for the implementation of general elections.
Shamaila Khan, Director of Emerging Sovereign Debt Market at Alliance Bernstein, said it was necessary to take extreme steps from Sagasti to quickly improve the Peruvian economy. Because, in the midst of the crisis, Peru’s state bonds and exchange rate fell.
“Political instability has become a daily routine in Peru in recent times,” he said.
ISTMAN MP | REUTERS
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