Peru’s Head of Cabinet to meet with Congress
Vicente Zeballos, president of Peru’s Ministerial Cabinet, will appear before a plenary session of Congress to present executive powers during the parliamentary interregnum, as well as outline the government’s measures to contain the COVID-19 outbreak.
On September 30, 2019, Peruvian President Martín Vizcarra dissolved Congress after it denied a question of confidence (a legislative tool often used when negotiations between Congress and the executive branch are stalled) for the fourth time in the last two presidencies. As this was the third question of confidence to be refused under his administration, Vizcarra was constitutionally permitted to dissolve Congress and call new parliamentary elections.
However, analysts worry the dissolution of Congress is evidence of a lack of balance between the legislative and executive branches. Today’s meeting will either result in the new Congress granting the question of confidence or censoring the cabinet.
The president’s decision to dissolve Congress due to a lack of policy support has generated concerns regarding the legitimacy of the Peruvian democracy. The outcome of today’s meeting will test the tenuous relationship between the branches of power and indicate whether Peru’s political future holds more internal governmental clashes and authoritarian imbalances.
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