Second impeachment of Martín Vizcarra

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Second impeachment of Martín Vizcarra — simplified summary

In October 2020, Peru’s President Martín Vizcarra faced a push in Congress to remove him from office. He was accused of “permanent moral incapacity,” with allegations tied to his time as governor of Moquegua and to contracts with construction companies.

The impeachment effort began earlier in October after a new motion was filed by several opposition groups. On November 2, 2020, Congress voted 60 in favor, 40 against, and 18 abstentions to admit the vacancy process.

Vizcarra defended himself in a plenary session on November 9. That night, Congress voted to remove him from the presidency: 105 in favor, 16 against, 4 present, and 2 abstentions. The 105 votes met the two-thirds requirement, so Vizcarra was removed.

Manuel Merino, the president of Congress, became interim president. The removal sparked protests and was controversial, with many people calling it a coup by some politicians and media.

Context: This event was part of a longer political crisis in Peru, with repeated impeachment attempts and debates about the proper use of the “moral incapacity” rule to remove a president. The Organization of American States urged calm and respect for constitutional processes.