LatinNews Daily - 28 October 2011

Javier Diez Canseco describes himself as “an independent” congressman within the ruling Gana Perú coalition. He has been appointed by President Ollanta Humala to head up a congressional investigative omission into corruption. The commission will probe malfeasance allegations levied against the last government led by former president Alan García (2001-2006). Diez Canseco was the second most voted congressman of the Gana Perú coalition in the April 2011 general election and is a well-respected politician who helped cement Humala’s more moderate campaign stance in his second presidential bid. Since the election, however, Diez Canseco has not always toed the coalition line, criticising the government for not making the mining royalty reform more exacting and for failing to remove Vice-President Omar Chehade from the congressional investigative commission (amid allegations of influence peddling by Chehade). Chehade eventually stood down from the commission on 27 October. Diez Canseco has long been a human rights advocate and leads the Partido Socialista. His party colleague, Aída García Naranjo, is the minister for women. This interview was conducted in London, UK, on 14 October.