Weekly Report - 16 August 2018 (WR-18-32)

Peru’s President Martín Vizcarra visited congress on 9 August bearing three constitutional reform projects he sees as pivotal to address the country’s current political and judicial crisis. That Vizcarra elected to go to congress in person underscored the importance he attaches to the swift approval of the reforms that will then go to a public referendum. Vizcarra was received by the head of congress, Daniel Salaverry, a member of the right-wing opposition Fuerza Popular (FP, Fujimoristas). Although Salaverry promised cooperation, Vizcarra is acutely aware that the fate of the reforms is in the hands of the FP, which dominates congress. For this reason, Vizcarra has gone over the party’s heads to arguably a higher power – the public – to support his cause.