Peru's president faces impeachment vote in congress

LIMA, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- Peru's President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski on Thursday addressed congress prior to a vote on his impeachment, saying the move stands to damage the nation's democracy.

"I only hope parliament understands the historical magnitude of the mistake it plans to commit and does not vote in favor of a motion to nullify (the presidency) without any real reason. You will not be harming me, you will be harming Peru," Kuczynski said in his defense.

The president, who has been accused of having accepted bribes in the past from disgraced Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht, called on lawmakers "to preserve the institutions and the democratic system" by voting against the measure.

Kuczynski, 79, was elected in 2016 after campaigning on a pledge to clean up corruption and secure a political stability in Peru. Due to the Odebrecht corruption scandal, his predecessor Ollanta Humala is being held in custody and Alejandro Toledo is living as a fugitive in the United States.

The motion to impeach the president for "moral incapacity" is being pushed by the opposition Popular Force party. The party is led by Keiko Fujimori, daughter of Peru's former President Alberto Fujimori. She narrowly lost the 2016 election to Kuczynski.

For impeachment to pass, it requires two-thirds of congress, or 87 of 130 votes, in favor. Enditem