Xinhua News Agency, Lima, November 17 (Reporter Zhang Guoying) Peruvian Congress Chairman Francisco Sagasti was sworn in as the new president in Congress on the 17th, succeeding the former President Merino, who announced his resignation on the 15th, and will serve until July next year.
Sagasti said in a speech at the inauguration ceremony that the country is currently undergoing an unprecedented crisis in history. His government will strive to make Peru an inclusive and full of opportunities country, giving the people confidence and hope. The new government will face a series of challenges, the first of which is to ensure that the national elections in April 2021 can be held "smoothly and absolutely clean".
On November 17, Peru's new President Sagasti (front and second from right) left after being sworn in by the Lima Congress. (Xinhua News Agency/AFP)
Sagasti emphasized that preventing and controlling the new crown epidemic and restoring economic growth are also priority goals of the government, and the government will take measures to ensure economic stability and fiscal balance. He also promised to continue the fight against corruption and support the investigation of corruption cases by the prosecutors.
On November 9, the Peruvian Congress voted to pass the impeachment case against then-President Vizcarra on the grounds of suspected corruption and remove him from his presidency. Merino, then chairman of Congress, took over as president the next day. Afterwards, large-scale protests and demonstrations broke out all over Peru. The demonstrators expressed dissatisfaction with the Congress’s removal of Vizcarra and demanded Merino's resignation. In the clash between the demonstrators and the police, two Lima youths were killed and nearly a hundred people were injured. Under political and social pressure, Merino announced his resignation on the 15th.
After Merino's resignation, several congressional leaders including Valdes, then chairman of Congress, also offered to resign. The Peruvian Constitution stipulates that when the President is unable to perform his duties, the Vice President shall take over. Since the post of Vice President of Peru has been vacant since October last year, the post of President will be taken over by the President of the Congress. The Peruvian Congress held a plenary session on the 16th, and Congressman Sagasti was elected as the new chairman of the Congress. After he takes over as president, the first vice chairman Mirta Vázquez will become the president of Congress in accordance with constitutional procedures.
Sagasti, 76, graduated from the National Engineering University of Peru, studied in the United States, and held positions in the Peruvian public sector and the World Bank. He was elected to Congress for the first time in March this year.
