Off the wire
• China Exclusive: Highway corridor links Chongqing to SE Asia  • News Analysis: China mulls further boosting private investment  • "Giant" panda twins born in SW China reserve  • China cuts retail fuel prices  • Top news items in major Zambian media outlets  • UN urges IGAD to push for sexual abuse probe in S. Sudan  • Indian military's trainer jet crashes in West Bengal  • Direct air route opens between Baotou, Ulan Bator  • Russia records deflation for first time in 5 years  • Russia suspends imports of fruit, vegetables from Bosnia and Herzegovina  
You are here: 　 Home

Roundup: Peruvian president completes first week in office with challenges ahead

Xinhua, August 4, 2016 Adjust font size:

Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski completed a busy first week in office fraught with challenges while the opposition party is controlling the congress.

Since taking office, Kuczynski has extended by 30 days the state of emergency in the province of Callao, a port region where crime has spiralled out of control.

Kuczynski is acting swiftly to ensure that his policies match his promises and is laying the groundwork to tackle the main issues in the coming months, said Nelson Manrique, a leading political analyst and columnist.

Another problem for Kuczynski is the alleged existence of a death squad within police ranks, where officers acted as hitmen for the highest bidder.

The new government acted swiftly with the Interior Ministry to open an investigation and has promised to clear up this matter within 10 days.

"Facing a frontal assault against corruption, which begins at high levels of power, is indispensable to actually realize any kind of real change," Manrique said.

Kuczynski must still contend with an opposition-led congress. He took office last week when the congress was still controlled by the opposition party, the Popular Force (FP).

Keiko Fujimori, who was defeated by Kuczynski in the presidential election, is the daughter of jailed ex-president Alberto Fujimori. She leads the FP party with 73 places in the 130-seat congress.

"The parliament is one of the least popular institutions in the country and its behavior has helped to reinforce this negative image," said Manrique.

However, Prime Minister Fernando Zavala met with congress president and FP party leader Luz Salgado, with both stating they were ready to reduce tensions.

It is hoped that this was not simply an exchange of pleasantries but points to Kuczynski's ability to seek a consensus across party lines. Kuczynski's mandate and his political success mainly depend on his ability to mend ties with the FP, which is helpful to the government.

The first real test of this relationship will come on Aug. 15 when the Kuczynski cabinet will present its governance plan for the next five years to congress and ask for a vote of confidence to grant extraordinary powers to the president to act swiftly in key areas. Endi