Peru’s interim president, Manuel Merino, is resigning just six days after the impeachment of his predecessor plunged the South American nation into turmoil.

“At this time, when the country is experiencing one of its biggest political crises, I want the whole country to know that I’m presenting my irrevocable resignation,” Merino said in a televised address on Sunday.

The surprise impeachment of Martin Vizcarra over unproven bribery allegations triggered Peru’s biggest demonstrations in two decades. The political upheaval could cloud prospects for elections due in April, and further hamstring an economy that contracted 30% in the second quarter because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Merino said his cabinet will remain in place until a new leader takes over, to avoid a power vacuum.

Congress will convene by 6 p.m. Sunday to vote in a lawmaker to lead a new interim government, the acting head of congress Luis Valdez told reporters.

Merino’s announcement was greeted with cheers from demonstrators in the streets of Lima. Others stood at their windows banging pots with spoons, as they have done every night since Vizcarra’s ouster.

Thousands of Peruvians, many of them university students, defied social-distancing rules and marched through the center of Lima on Saturday to protest Vizcarra’s impeachment and called for Merino to quit.

While the demonstrations were largely peaceful, there were some violent clashes with police, and two men died from gunshot wounds.

Further political gridlock and protests threaten to hamper the fight against the coronavirus in a country with one of the world’s highest per-capita death rates from Covid-19.

https://www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2020-11-15/peru-s-interim-president-merino-quits-following-deadly-protests

Cc lalasticlala

RomanianNinja:
Peru’s interim president, Manuel Merino, is resigning just six days after the impeachment of his predecessor plunged the South American nation into turmoil.

“At this time, when the country is experiencing one of its biggest political crises, I want the whole country to know that I’m presenting my irrevocable resignation,” Merino said in a televised address on Sunday.

The surprise impeachment of Martin Vizcarra over unproven bribery allegations triggered Peru’s biggest demonstrations in two decades. The political upheaval could cloud prospects for elections due in April, and further hamstring an economy that contracted 30% in the second quarter because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Merino said his cabinet will remain in place until a new leader takes over, to avoid a power vacuum.

Congress will convene by 6 p.m. Sunday to vote in a lawmaker to lead a new interim government, the acting head of congress Luis Valdez told reporters.

Merino’s announcement was greeted with cheers from demonstrators in the streets of Lima. Others stood at their windows banging pots with spoons, as they have done every night since Vizcarra’s ouster.

Thousands of Peruvians, many of them university students, defied social-distancing rules and marched through the center of Lima on Saturday to protest Vizcarra’s impeachment and called for Merino to quit.

While the demonstrations were largely peaceful, there were some violent clashes with police, and two men died from gunshot wounds.

Further political gridlock and protests threaten to hamper the fight against the coronavirus in a country with one of the world’s highest per-capita death rates from Covid-19.

https://www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2020-11-15/peru-s-interim-president-merino-quits-following-deadly-protests

Cc lalasticlala

african leaders won't do such

We

This is what I expected Bubu to do after the endsars protest.

puremaker7:
african leaders won't do such

If they do, expect protest immediately after each inauguration. E get how things b in Africa.

Africans will prefer to die in power

na wa

Guide777:
This is what I expected Bubu to do after the endsars protest.

bubu ll be very happy to disappoint you. Next time guide your expectations

puremaker7:
african leaders won't do such

Will your father resign from his new job in 5 days? What do they want? They impeached the Former President, the new one resigned within days? Peru problems is just beginning, we don’t need these kind of confusion on top our confusion.

Buhari do resign na.

Guide777:
This is what I expected Bubu to do after the endsars protest.

Always thinking backwardly, no wonder you have nothing? Buhari resign because some hooligans were causing civil unrest? in my opinion enough people were not shot, to teach others a lesson next time.

Quelme:
Buhari do resign na.

Make your Governor resign na?

Guide777:
This is what I expected Bubu to do after the endsars protest.

exactly

favor914:
Make your Governor resign na?

Forget Mr MOU. That na story for another day.
Hope you dey enjoy your Sunday?

favor914:
Always thinking backwardly, no wonder you have nothing? Buhari resign because some hooligans were causing civil unrest? in my opinion enough people were not shot, to teach others a lesson next time.

chai. see person daughter, and this one will go to a man house as the wife. RIP FOR THE MAN IN ADVANCE. into say u talk trash

favor914:
Will your father resign from his new job in 5 days? What do they want? They impeached the Former President, the new one resigned within days? Peru problems is just beginning, we don’t need these kind of confusion on top our confusion.

if the people that your father is leading don't want your father anymore, the best thing is for your father to resign or they kill your father...


if you think you are stupid and lack parential guard by mentioning my father, you will be taught outside.

Iseoluwani:


exactly

Too many daft minded children on Nairaland? Expect President Buhari duly elected to resign, because some pdp miscreants that don’t support him are disgruntled? Go and look for a job, to occupy your spare time, an idle mind is the devil’s workshop.

Here, government would say " is just 15 that was killed, I thought it was 100, no wahala".

Failed country

puremaker7:
if the people that your father is leading don't want your father anymore, the best thing is for your father to resign or they kill your father...


if you think you are stupid and lack parential guard by mentioning my father, you will be taught outside.

Pikin very funny, they will kill your Father? Go and wait to vote for Atiku in 2023, President Buhari has a mandate from the 15 million people that voted for him. Go & hide your face in the sand like an ostrich till then Loser.

favor914:
Too many daft minded children on Nairaland? Expect President Buhari duly elected to resign, because some pdp miscreants that don’t support him are disgruntled? Go and look for a job, to occupy your spare time, an idle mind is the devil’s workshop.

your name from the back says all. what stops a president from resigning if

1.campaign promises are not met
2. insecurity of lives
3. favouritism of a tribe over another
4. making life difficult without providing alternative. petrol is 170 since yesterday. before you were born I bought petrol at #5 that was when fuel was 50kobo. and it will take one conveniently to ibadan to ore 2twice.
seems you failed this year weac. go and read again Arrow

inteli:
Here, government would say " is just 15 that was killed, I thought it was 100, no wahala".

Failed country

100? Are you amongst the bodybags, Randall and Hopkirk Deceased?, you returned from the other side to count yourself? where did you get those stats from?

Iseoluwani:


your name from the back says all. what stops a president from resigning if

1.campaign promises are not met
2. insecurity of lives
3. favouritism of a tribe over another
4. making life difficult without providing alternative. petrol is 170 since yesterday. before you were born I bought petrol at #5 that was when fuel was 50kobo. and it will take one conveniently to ibadan to ore 2twice.
seems you failed this year weac. go and read again Arrow

Why did Yaradua of pdp not resign when he knew he was dying? You bought petrol in swan water bottle for 50 kobo for your Raleigh bicycle, what year? You rode from Ibadan to Ore, how much was toll gate fees then?

favor914:
Always thinking backwardly, no wonder you have nothing? Buhari resign because some hooligans were causing civil unrest? in my opinion enough people were not shot, to teach others a lesson next time.

Well and aptly said. I shouldn't expect anything less from a slowpoke.

2by40ft:
bubu ll be very happy to disappoint you. Next time guide your expectations

Expectations well guided. Let him continue. Onward we match. Together we feel the pangs.