POLITICAL CRISIS IN PERU FROM 2017-2018

The political crisis in Peru of 2017-2018 refers to the period of political instability that took place in the
Republic of Peru during the government of Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, between September 15, 2017 and
March 23, 2018; returning on July 7, 2018 under the government of Martín Vizcarra. It can be divided so
far into four: The first period or "first crisis" was due to a series of events that officially ended on
September 15, 2017 in a total fracture of the State in two. On the one hand the Executive, called
"oficialismo", led by the constitutionally elected president Pedro Pablo Kuczynski and on the other the
Congress of the Republic of Peru controlled mostly by the Fujimorist Popular Force party that calls itself
"the opposition" led by its leader Keiko Fujimori. On October 13 the Congress of the Republic dominated
by the opposition resumed relations with the ruling party, albeit in a fragile manner.
The second period or "second crisis" is due to the lack of prestige that President of the Republic Pedro
Pablo Kuczynski lost when exposing a supposed conflict of interest when he was Minister of State of the
government of Alejandro Toledo (2001-2006), At that time, one of his one-person consulting firms had
made professional services to the Odebrecht company and received substantial payments. Until then,
PPK had constantly denied having maintained any employment relationship with that company. All this led
to the first official request for a presidential vacancy due to "moral incapacity" according to the current
constitution (which would be for having lied repeatedly about his relationship with the Odebrecht
company), which, however, did not prosper. Soon after, Kuczynski pardoned the former president Alberto
Fujimori, who was serving a 25-year sentence for crimes against human rights. The decision triggered
massive protests in several cities, the resignation of three of his ministers and severe criticism from a
broad spectrum of personalities. Then, on February 28, 2018, the Mulder Law prohibiting state advertising
in private media was approved at the urging of APRA and Fujimorismo, and shortly thereafter a second
presidential vacancy request was filed, promoted by the left and supported by the Fujimoristas of Popular
Force.
The third period or "third crisis" began a few days before the Congress debated the request for vacancy,
when on March 20, 2018, the Fujimoristas revealed videos and audios that showed that government
operators, including a minister of state, negotiated with a Popular Force congressman to buy his vote
against the vacancy, in exchange for works for his region. The next day, the president sent his letter of
resignation to Congress, which was accepted on March 23, 2018. That same day the engineer Martín
Vizcarra was sworn in as new president, for being in the line of succession as the first Vice President of
the Republic.
The fourth period or "fourth crisis" began on July 7, 2018 when the portal IDL-Reporters brought to light
the well-known CNM Audios that would reveal alleged offers of penalties reductions, requests and
acknowledgments of favors or negotiations of promotions of officials of the National Council of the
Magistracy (body of the Public Ministry that would be related to diverse public figures like politicians,
industralists and sportsmen, headed by the lawyer César Hinostroza), this would cause the calls marches
against the corruption that demand "that go away all" referring to the politicians in general and the
congress in particular. The now president of the Republic Martín Vizcarra during his speech for national
holidays said he will call a referendum on the non-reelection of congressmen and members of the
Magistracy.