Thread by @anticorruption

🇵🇪 What is going on in #Peru and why it is important for the fight against corruption? THREAD ⬇️

1/ On Monday, #Peru congress removed President Martín Vizcarra from office over allegations of #corruption while he was a regional governor. Thousands have taken to the streets daily in protest. de.reuters.com/article/us-per…

2/ But Vizcarra’s removal is not a victory for anti-corruption. It is actually a major problem. The charges against him have not been proven, and he was in fact leading an anti-corruption drive in the country. theguardian.com/world/2020/nov…

3/ Many of the politicians who voted Vizcarra out are themselves under investigation. @proeticaperu, our national chapter, have found that impunity reigns in Congress. “Many enter politics to access immunity.” @srotta told @AP’s @cearmario. apnews.com/article/peru-o…

4/ The vote to remove Vizcarra rests on the claim that he is ‘morally incapacitated’ and unable to hold office as President. This is a serious distortion of the article in #Peru’s constitution that covers these situations. americasquarterly.org/article/what-j…

5/ As TI’s former chair @JoseUgazSM told @aristeguicnn, it is possible that the #COVID19 pandemic is used as a pretext to delay elections scheduled for April, keeping Merino in office. This must NOT happen. The people of #Peru must elect their President. cnnespanol.cnn.com/video/jose-uga…

6/ Interim President Merino must make sure that his cabinet does not exploit the powers of the Executive. Elections must go ahead as planned, investigations against parliamentarians must continue, and peaceful demonstrations must not be suppressed transparency.org/en/press/perus…

7/ We are concerned that the new concentration of power in #Peru creates the conditions that facilitate #corruption. The public’s right to protest must be protected and their human rights upheld.

Statement: anticorru.pt/2rb