- Title: Peru: Congress Swears In Valentin Paniagua As Interim President
- Date: 22nd November 2000
- Summary: Peru's Congress has sworn in a moderate opposition lawmaker as interim president after it declared Alberto Fujimori "morally unfit" to be leader and sacked him following allegations of government corruption. Valentin Paniagua, a 64-year-old constitutional lawyer seen as having broad appeal in this politically polarised nation, said his government was the start of a new era. "An era is closed and another is opened in Peru's history. A feeling of faith gives hope to the spirits of the nation. We all want a new beginning and there is one," Paniagua, wearing a sash in Peru's red and white colors, told Congress, its galleries packed with diplomats and party leaders. The new president immediately named former United Nations Secretary General Javier Perez de Cuellar as Prime Minister and head of a cabinet of "unity and national reconciliation". Perez de Cuellar, who headed the United Nations from 1982 to 1991, ran against Fujimori in 1995 presidential elections. Paniagua's nomination came after Congress rejected Fujimori's resignation -- sent from Tokyo where the former strongman is sheltering from the political storm -- and instead fired him on November 21 in disgrace. Paniagua was in line to assume the presidency as Fujimori's two vice presidents, who were ahead of him in the constitutional pecking order, had also resigned. The events were a political turnaround after 10 years of iron-fisted rule by Fujimori, who was first elected in 1990 and re-elected in 1995 and 2000. After his closest aide and ex-spy chief was accused of bribery, Fujimori cut short a third term and called new elections for April. But as the scandal spiralled out of control he was unable to fulfil his desire to stay in office until the new ballot. Paniagua, who has been in politics for 37 years and has twice been a cabinet minister, will have the task of completing the reforms of tainted institutions especially vote-counting bodies and courts. By law Paniagua cannot stand in the new election. The winner of April's election will take office next July 28,2001 for a five-year term. The opposition has said Fujimori cheated it of victory in a rigged vote earlier this year.
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- Location: PERU LIMA,
- Reuters ID: LDL0012E5AEEN
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