Opposition congressman Luis Iberico was elected president of Peru’s congress to further undermine the last year in unpopular President Ollanta Humala’s term.
The highest authority in the legislative branch, Peru’s congressional president not only presides over congress and decides which initiatives are submitted for a vote, but also exercises significant control over committees and investigative commissions.
Before Iberico’s election, Humala’s Nationalist Party controlled the congressional presidency for every year of his term. Iberico replaced Arequipa congresswoman Ana Maria Solorzano.
Iberico is a member of the Alliance for Progress party aligned with Pedro Pablo Kuczynski’s Alliance for Great Change coalition, which represents small number of votes in congress. Iberico represented a compromise between the two congressional powerhouses of Popular Strength and APRA, which are led by Keiko Fujimori and Alan Garcia respectively.
Iberico defeated congressman Vicente Zeballos of the Lima mayor Luis Castañeda’s National Solidarity party, which often allies with the Peruvian Nationalist Party.
While Humala’s government is suffering its lowest popularity to date, pro-government politicians were successful in casting doubt on Iberico given his connections to jailed mafioso Rodolfo Orellana.
But despite those allegations, Iberico won 70 votes to 55 for Zeballos. The total implies Iberico won some votes from Humala’s Nationalist and Alejandro Toledo’s Peru Possible parties.
The defections imply clear divisions within President Ollanta Humala and first lady Nadine Heredia’s Nationalist Party. Investigations into alleged corruption and campaign finance irregularities involving the first lady, who is also the party president, will most likely intensify in Iberico’s congress.
However Iberico struck a conciliatory note after his electoral victory. “It’s important that the Executive and Legislative [branches] join forces in the area of crime. It’s what we have to prioritize because it is what the people urgently demand,” Iberico said.
Sources
Iberico invoca todas las instituciones a trabajar unidas por la seguridad ciudadana (Andina)
Lista de Luis Iberico ganó presidencia de la Mesa Directiva para periodo 2015-2016 (Andina)
Votos escondidos de nacionalistas dan el triunfo Luis Iberico (El Comercio)