Manuel Merino#Resignation

Manuel Arturo Merino de Lama was born on 20 August 1961 in the northern city of Tumbes. He is the son of Pedro Merino Hidalgo and Elba de Lama Barreto. In 1985, he married Mary Jacqueline Peña Carruitero, an early childhood teacher. The couple have three children, Elba Jacqueline, Sandra Lisbeth and María Teresa.{{Cite news|url=https://elcomercio.pe/politica/manuel-merino-quien-es-la-primera-dama-mary-pena-carruitero-vacancia-presidencial-noticia/|title=Manuel Merino: ¿Quién es la primera dama Mary Peña Carruitero? |date=10 November 2020|newspaper=El Comercio}}

Merino completed his elementary education at the Santa María de la Frontera School in 1973, and he finished his secondary education at the "Inmaculada Concepción" Educational Center in 1978, both in Tumbes.

In 1979, he enrolled at the National University of Piura (later the National University of Tumbes) to study agronomics. He subsequently dropped out and did not complete his undergraduate studies.{{Cite web|url=https://votoinformado.jne.gob.pe/voto/HojaVida/HojaVida?codigo=NOlGTQ/Lymg=|title=Voto Informado|website=votoinformado.jne.gob.pe}} That same year, Merino registered with the center-right political party Popular Action.{{Cite web|title=Observatorio para la Gobernabilidad|url=https://infogob.jne.gob.pe/|website=Infogob}} From Tumbes, he integrated into the Youth Command, later becoming an active member of the party.

In 1983, Merino was initially an agricultural producer and merchant, at the same time he dedicating himself to raising cattle, serving as a member of the Tumbes Livestock Fund (FONGAN), president of Marketing of the Association of Banana Producers, president of the Association of Traders of Bananas and Fruits in General, member of the Tumbes Agriculture Defense Committee, representative of the Agrarian Producers of Tumbes, president of the Electoral Committee of the Irrigation Commission of the Left Bank of the Tumbes River, and president of the Permanent Commission of the Agrarian Debt of Tumbes.{{Cite web|url=https://andina.pe/agencia/noticia-manuel-merino-lama-conoce-perfil-del-presidente-de-republica-820951.aspx|title=Manuel Merino de Lama: conoce el perfil del presidente de la República|website=andina.pe|date=10 November 2020 }}

In December 2000, Merino coordinated directly with the different agrarian organizations of the department, to obtain the cancellation of the debts contracted with the State and the refinancing of the same with the private financial entities.{{Cite web|url=https://eltiempo.pe/perfil-de-manuel-merino-lama-ar/|title=Este es el perfil de Manuel Merino de Lama|date=10 November 2020|website=El Tiempo}}

In 1979, he enrolled at the National University of Piura (later the National University of Tumbes) to study agronomics. He subsequently dropped out and did not complete his undergraduate studies. That same year, Merino registered with the center-right political party Popular Action. From Tumbes, he integrated into the Youth Command, later becoming an active member of the party.

In 2000, he presided over the National Unity Front made up of political parties and movements. He was subsequently chosen by the Popular Action party to run for a seat in Congress in the 2001 general election.{{Cite web|url=http://www4.congreso.gob.pe/congresista/2001/amerino/representantes.htm|title=Manuel Merino de Lama|website=www4.congreso.gob.pe}}{{Cite web|url=https://rpp.pe/politica/congreso/manuel-merino-un-repaso-a-la-vida-politica-de-quien-debera-asumir-la-presidencia-del-peru-perfil-noticia-1303243|title=Manuel Merino: Un repaso a la vida política del nuevo presidente del Perú [PERFIL]|first=Catalina|last=Quinto|date=9 November 2020|website=RPP}} Merino was elected to Congress with the highest vote count in Tumbes for the 2001–2006 term.{{Cite web|url=https://infogob.jne.gob.pe/Eleccion/FichaEleccion/elecciones-generales-2001-congresal_candidatos-y-resultados_Iv00OXhZtkM=0X|title=ELECCIONES GENERALES 2001 – CONGRESAL|website=Infogob}} At the 2006 general election, Merino failed to attain reelection, as the Center Front coalition only obtained five seats nationally, mostly from Lima.{{Cite web|url=https://infogob.jne.gob.pe/Eleccion/FichaEleccion/elecciones-generales-2006-congresal_candidatos-y-resultados_uTVTOJ5yMgE=VJ|title=ELECCIONES GENERALES 2006 – CONGRESAL|website=Infogob}}

In the following years, Merino took an active role in the National Executive Committee of Popular Action, which propelled him to once again run for the Congress in the 2011 general election. As part of the Possible Peru Electoral Alliance, which united Popular Action, We Are Peru, and Possible Peru, he was elected for the Tumbes constituency for the 2011–2016 term.{{Cite web|url=https://infogob.jne.gob.pe/Eleccion/FichaEleccion/elecciones-generales-2011-congresal_candidatos-y-resultados_gNT+BMeMIPs=TM|title=ELECCIONES GENERALES 2011 – CONGRESAL|website=Infogob}}

From 2011 to 2012, Merino served as First Vice President of the Congress, during Daniel Abugattás congressional presidency. Likewise, from 2012 to 2013, he chaired the Housing Committee. He was also an alternate spokesperson for the Popular Action-Broad Front parliamentary caucus, and Vice President of the Amazon Congressional Caucus, from 2011 to 2013.{{Cite web|url=http://www4.congreso.gob.pe/congresista/2011/amerino/cargos.asp|title=Manuel Arturo Merino De Lama|website=www4.congreso.gob.pe}} In the 2016 general election, Merino again failed to attain reelection, as the Popular Action only obtained five seats nationally, mostly from Lima.

In March 2020, an investigation into potential nepotism was initiated against Merino.{{Cite web|date=2020-11-12|title=They threw out the president. Now Peru's anti-corruption drive looks in doubt|url=https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-11-12/peru-president-ousted-anti-corruption-drive-in-doubt|access-date=2020-11-13|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2020-06-01|title=Congreso: Familiares Manuel Merino contrataron con el Estado cuando era congresista entre el 2011 y 2016 |url=https://gestion.pe/peru/politica/congreso-familiares-manuel-merino-contrataron-con-el-estado-cuando-era-congresista-entre-el-2011-y-2016-nndc-noticia/|access-date=2020-11-13|website=Gestión|language=es}} While a member of congress between 2011 and 2016, his mother and two brothers were contracted by the Peruvian government and paid $55,000 for services, which is not permitted due to his membership in congress. His brother was granted another government contract one month before Merino took office in March 2020. Merino denied any allegations of nepotism.

In the 2020 election, Merino was elected to Congress for a third time, once again representing Tumbes to complete the 2016-2021 parliamentary term in the aftermath of the 2019 Peruvian constitutional crisis.{{Cite web|title=New President, Manuel Merino, sworn in today following ousting of Martin Vizcarra|url=https://www.peruviantimes.com/10/new-president-manuel-merino-sworn-in-today-following-ousting-of-martin-vizcarra/32337/|access-date=2020-11-12|website=www.peruviantimes.com|date=10 November 2020 |language=en-US}} Due to being the most experienced congressman of the first parliamentary majority caucus (AP), he was elected President of Congress on 16 March 2020, with 93 votes in favor against Rocío Silva-Santisteban (FA), who only obtained 14 votes.{{Cite web|url=https://rpp.pe/politica/congreso/manuel-merino-de-lama-es-elegido-nuevo-presidente-del-congreso-noticia-1252044|title=Manuel Merino de Lama es elegido nuevo presidente del Congreso|first=Oswaldo|last=Palacios|date=16 March 2020|website=RPP}}{{Cite news|url=https://elcomercio.pe/politica/manuel-merino-de-lama-fue-elegido-presidente-del-congreso-para-el-periodo-2020-2021-nndc-noticia/|title=Manuel Merino de Lama es elegido presidente del Congreso para el período 2020–2021|date=17 March 2020|newspaper=El Comercio}}{{Cite web|url=https://andina.pe/agencia/noticia-manuel-merino-lama-es-nuevo-presidente-del-congreso-788568.aspx|title=Manuel Merino de Lama es el nuevo presidente del Congreso|website=andina.pe|date=16 March 2020 }}

{{main|First impeachment process against Martín Vizcarra}}

On 11 September 2020, Congress initiated impeachment proceedings against President Martín Vizcarra, for alleged "permanent moral incapacity".{{Cite web|url=https://gestion.pe/peru/politica/vacancia-presidencial-martin-vizcarra-esta-es-la-mocion-de-vacancia-presentada-en-el-congreso-nndc-noticia/|title=Vacancia presidencial: Esta es la moción de vacancia presentada en el Congreso |date=11 September 2020|website=Gestión}} The determining factor for the motion to be approved was that it reach the number of necessary votes (26), which was achieved hours later.{{Cite news|url=https://elcomercio.pe/politica/congreso/martin-vizcarra-en-vivo-congreso-mocion-de-vacancia-contra-el-presidente-difusion-de-audios-richard-swing-noticia/|title=Martín Vizcarra: Parlamento admitió moción de vacancia presidencial|date=11 September 2020|newspaper=El Comercio}}

Merino faced criticism regarding how he hastily pushed for impeachment proceedings against Vizcarra.{{Cite web|last=Burt|first=Jo-Marie|date=17 September 2020|title=Vizcarra May Survive. But Peru's Politics Look Fragile.|url=https://www.americasquarterly.org/article/vizcarra-may-survive-but-perus-politics-look-fragile/|access-date=17 September 2020|website=Americas Quarterly|language=en-US}} If Vizcarra were to be removed from office, Merino would assume the presidential office given his position in congress and due to the absence of vice presidents for Vizcarra.{{Ref label|note_a1|A|}} Renowned reporter Gustavo Gorriti reported on 12 September that Merino had contacted the Commanding General of the Peruvian Navy, Fernando Cerdán, notifying him that he was going to attempt to impeach Vizcarra and was seeking to assume the presidency.{{Cite web|date=12 September 2020|title=El Gobierno peruano califica de "golpismo" la moción de censura contra Vizcarra|url=https://www.abc.es/internacional/abci-gobierno-peruano-califica-golpismo-mocion-censura-contra-vizcarra-202009130155_noticia.html|access-date=17 September 2020|website=ABC|language=es}} Minister of Defense Jorge Chávez confirmed that Merino had tried to establish support with the military. Subsequent reports were later released that Merino had contacted officials throughout the government while preparing to create a transitional cabinet{{Cite web|date=15 September 2020|title=Incháustegui confirma que allegados a Acción Popular lo contactaron para integrar gabinete de Merino [VIDEO]|url=https://larepublica.pe/politica/2020/09/14/congreso-ministro-miguel-inchaustegui-confirma-que-miembros-de-bancada-accion-popular-le-pidieron-integrar-gabinete-de-manuel-merino/|access-date=17 September 2020|website=La República|language=es}} and that Merino had tried to communicate with the Chief of the Joint Command of the Peruvian Armed Forces, César Astudillo Salcedo, and Navy Commander, Fernando Cerdán, in order to "give them peace of mind".{{Cite web|last=Agurto|first=Ego|date=12 September 2020|title=Vacancia presidencial: Manuel Merino reconoce que llamó a oficial de las Fuerzas Armadas y dice que fue un "llamado a la calma"|url=https://rpp.pe/politica/gobierno/vacancia-presidencial-manuel-merino-reconoce-que-llamo-a-oficial-de-las-fuerzas-armadas-y-dice-que-fue-un-llamado-a-la-calma-noticia-1292157|website=RPP}} Following the release of these reports, support for impeaching Vizcarra decreased among members of congress.

President Vizcarra was summoned – upon approval of the motion – to exercise his right of defense. On 18 September, after a long session, Congress held the impeachment vote after hearing the president and his legal counsel, which was rejected with 78 votes against, 32 in favor and 15 abstentions.{{Cite web|url=https://diariocorreo.pe/politica/vacancia-martin-vizcarra-este-es-el-procedimiento-a-seguir-para-la-vacancia-presidencial-noticia/|title=Vacancia Martín Vizcarra: Este es el procedimiento a seguir para la vacancia presidencial |date=11 September 2020|website=Correo}}{{Cite web|url=https://elbuho.pe/2020/09/caso-swing-borrador-de-mocion-de-vacancia-contra-martin-vizcarra-coronavirus-peru/|title=Caso Swing: hacen pública moción de vacancia contra Martín Vizcarra|date=11 September 2020|website=El Búho}}{{Cite news|url=https://elcomercio.pe/politica/congreso/congreso-no-alcanza-los-votos-para-vacar-al-presidente-martin-vizcarra-por-incapacidad-moral-noticia/|title=Congreso rechaza vacancia del presidente Martín Vizcarra|date=20 September 2020|newspaper=El Comercio}}

{{main|Removal of Martín Vizcarra}}

On 20 October 2020, the Union for Peru parliamentary caucus – citing as strong evidence against Vizcarra the media revelations on his tenure as Governor of Moquegua – issued a second impeachment motion, which was supported by Broad Front, Podemos Perú, two congressmen from Popular Action and an independent. In order to gain more evidence against the President, Merino and the congressional leadership agreed on delaying the debate on the motion until 2 November. The motion was subsequently approved, and Vizcarra was summoned once again to exercise his defense with the assistance of his legal counsel.{{Cite web|url=https://www.expreso.com.pe/politica/union-por-el-peru-completa-las-firmas-y-presenta-nueva-mocion-de-vacancia-contra-martin-vizcarra/|title=Unión por el Perú completa las firmas y presenta nueva moción de vacancia contra Martín Vizcarra – Diario ExpresoDiario Expreso|website=www.expreso.com.pe|date=21 October 2020 }}

On 9 November 2020, following Vizcarra's appearance before Congress, Merino initiated the final debate in order to proceed to voting on the impeachment at night.{{Cite web|url=http://convoca.pe/agenda-propia/martin-vizcarra-congreso-ratifica-citacion-al-presidente-para-el-9-de-noviembre|title=Martín Vizcarra: Presidente ejerce su defensa ante el Congreso por segundo proceso de vacancia en su contra|website=Convoca.pe – Agenda Propia}} The impeachment vote reached a total of 105 votes in favor, 19 against, and 2 abstentions, thus effectively removing Vizcarra from office.{{Cite web|url=https://elpais.com/internacional/2020-11-10/el-congreso-de-peru-destituye-al-presidente-martin-vizcarra.html|title=El Congreso de Perú destituye al presidente Martín Vizcarra por supuesta recepción de sobornos|first=Jacqueline|last=Fowks|date=10 November 2020|website=EL PAÍS}}

Due to the accepted resignation of Mercedes Aráoz as Second Vice President six months before, the constitutional succession allowed Merino to ascend to the presidency of Peru in his position of President of Congress.{{Cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/es/minuto-a-minuto/20201110-manuel-merino-una-silenciosa-carrera-hasta-la-presidencia-de-perú|title=Manuel Merino, una silenciosa carrera hasta la presidencia de Perú|date=10 November 2020|website=France 24}} The decision was widely dismissed by the media and the population, sparking the beginning of widespread protests throughout Peru in sign of disapproval.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-america-latina-54879494|title=Quién es Manuel Merino, el presidente del Congreso de Perú que reemplaza al destituido Martín Vizcarra|newspaper=BBC News Mundo }} Vizcarra ultimately accepted his removal from office, and departed from the Government Palace on the same night.{{Cite web|url=https://larepublica.pe/politica/2020/11/09/vacancia-del-presidente-martin-vizcarra-en-vivo-ultimas-noticias-tras-aprobacion-del-congreso/|title=Martín Vizcarra dejó Palacio de Gobierno tras golpe de Estado [RESUMEN]|date=9 November 2020|website=larepublica.pe}}

Merino was inaugurated at 10:42 a.m. (Peru Time) on 10 November 2020, in the midst of protests across the country against his ascension to the presidency.{{Cite web|url=https://rpp.pe/peru/actualidad/sucesion-presidencial-minuto-a-minuto-manuel-merino-asume-hoy-el-mandato-tras-declararse-vacancia-contra-martin-vizcarra-live-696|title=Manuel Merino juró como presidente de la República tras la vacancia de Martín Vizcarra [EN VIVO]|date=10 November 2020|website=RPP}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/es/américa-latina/20201110-peru-crisis-manuel-merino-destitution-vizcarra|title=Manuel Merino, tercer presidente de Perú en cuatro años de crisis política|date=10 November 2020|website=France 24}}{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/10/world/americas/peru-impeachment.html |title=Peru's Surprise New Leader Stokes Anger, Fear in a Traumatized Country |website=The New York Times |date=10 November 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-peru-politics-idUSKBN27Q1WP|title=Head of Peru's Congress assumes presidency, vows to respect election timetable|first=Marco|last=Aquino|work=U.S. |date=11 November 2020|via=www.reuters.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/perus-manuel-merino-is-sworn-in-as-president-11605024644|title=Peru's Manuel Merino Is Sworn In as President|first=Ryan|last=Dube|work=Wall Street Journal |date=11 November 2020|via=www.wsj.com}} The following day, under the pressure of forming a new government, he named Ántero Flores Aráoz, a conservative politician and former Minister of Defense under former President Alan García, as Prime Minister.{{Cite news|url=https://elcomercio.pe/politica/antero-flores-araoz-confirma-que-sera-primer-ministro-de-manuel-merino-gabinete-vacancia-martin-vizcarra-noticia/|title=Ántero Flores-Aráoz juró como presidente del Consejo de Ministros|newspaper=El Comercio |date=11 November 2020|via=www.elcomercio.pe}}{{Cite news|url=https://elcomercio.pe/politica/gobierno/antero-flores-araoz-el-politico-conservador-que-asume-la-pcm-perfil-manuel-merino-noticia/|title=Antero Flores Aráoz, el político conservador que asume la PCM |first=Jonathan|last=Castro|newspaper=El Comercio |date=11 November 2020|via=www.elcomercio.pe}}{{Cite web|url=https://gestion.pe/peru/politica/gabinete-manuel-merino-antero-flores-araoz-este-es-el-perfil-y-pensamiento-del-nuevo-primer-ministro-noticia/|title=Ántero Flores-Aráoz, este es el perfil y pensamiento del nuevo primer ministro|date=11 November 2020|via=www.gestion.pe}}

The Secretary General of the Organization of American States, Luis Almagro, expressed his concern about the issue and "reiterates that it is the responsibility of the Constitutional Court of Peru to rule on the legality and legitimacy of the institutional decisions adopted."{{Cite web|date=2020-11-11|title=OEA no reconoce a Merino como presidente y pide al TC pronunciarse sobre su legitimidad|url=https://picanews.pe/index.php/2020/11/11/oea-no-reconoce-a-merino-como-presidente-y-pide-al-tc-pronunciarse-sobre-su-legitimidad/|access-date=2021-05-31|website=Pica News|language=en-US}}

His assumption of the presidency, due to the vacancy against Martín Vizcarra, was questioned by various sectors of the population.{{Cite web|date=2020-11-13|title=Los jóvenes protestan en Perú a la espera de que el Constitucional se pronuncie sobre la salida de Vizcarra|url=https://www.abc.es/internacional/abci-jovenes-protestan-peru-espera-constitucional-pronuncie-sobre-salida-vizcarra-202011130138_noticia.html|access-date=2021-05-31|website=abc|language=es}}

On November 13, Merino was invited to participate in the annual meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum.{{Cite web|title=Presidente Manuel Merino participará en la 27º Cumbre del Foro APEC|url=https://andina.pe/agencia/noticia-presidente-manuel-merino-participara-la-27º-cumbre-del-foro-apec-821470.aspx|access-date=2021-05-16|website=andina.pe|date=13 November 2020 |language=es}}

During his first public pronouncements, Merino expressed support for the scheduled elections in April 2021, called for health and economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic in Peru, and promoted law and order within the country. Protests continued, however, with heavy police response to demonstrations on 14 November resulting with the deaths of protesters and the subsequent resignation of the majority of Merino's ministers.{{Cite web|date=2020-11-15|title=CRISIS POLíTICAL : Titular del Interior y la mayoría de ministros renuncia a Gabinete de Ántero Flores-Aráoz|url=https://peru21.pe/politica/crisis-political-titular-del-interior-y-la-mayoria-de-ministros-renuncia-a-gabinete-de-antero-flores-araoz-noticia/|access-date=2020-11-15|website=Peru21|language=es}}

On 15 November 2020, Merino stepped down as president, citing that he acted within the law when he was sworn into office the previous Tuesday and that he would "do everything in my power to guarantee a constitutional succession."{{Cite web|author=Stefano Pozzebon, Claudia Rebaza and Jaide Timm-Garcia|title=Peru's interim president resigns after just five days|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/15/americas/peru-interim-president-resigns-intl/index.html|access-date=2020-11-16|website=CNN|date=15 November 2020 }}

The Constitutional Court of Peru scheduled for Wednesday, November 18, the public hearing on the competence claim filed by the Executive Power on September 14 for the first presidential vacancy process, in which the votes to remove Martín Vizcarra were not obtained.{{Cite web|date=2020-11-12|title=El TC de Perú revisará la destitución de Vizcarra mientras crecen las protestas|url=https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20201112/constitucional-destitucion-vizcarra-protestas/2055294.shtml|access-date=2021-05-14|website=RTVE|language=es}}{{Cite web|date=2020-11-11|title=TC verá demanda competencial por vacancia presidencial el 18 de noviembre |url=https://gestion.pe/peru/politica/tc-vera-demanda-competencial-por-vacancia-presidencial-el-18-de-noviembre-nndc-noticia/|access-date=2021-05-14|website=Gestión|language=es}}

The succeeding government of Francisco Sagasti announced following Merino's resignation that the attorney general would investigate if he was responsible for possible human rights violations.{{Cite web|last=Burt|first=Jo-Marie|date=19 November 2020|title=Can Francisco Sagasti Hold Peru Together?|url=https://www.americasquarterly.org/article/can-francisco-sagasti-hold-peru-together/|access-date=2020-12-07|website=Americas Quarterly|language=en-US}}

On November 20, 2020, the Constitutional Court published its ruling in which it declared the jurisdictional claim inadmissible because it considered that there was a subtraction of the matter and therefore did not make any pronouncement on the merits, which generated academic questions.{{Cite web|date=2020-12-01|title="¿Hubo un golpe de estado en el Perú?": El escenario poscrisis política|url=https://ciup.up.edu.pe/analisis/hubo-un-golpe-de-estado-en-el-peru-el-escenario-poscrisis-politica/|access-date=2021-05-12|website=ciup.up.edu.pe|language=es}}{{Cite news|date=2020-11-21|title=Sentencia del TC sobre Vacancia presidencial: sustracción de la materia no implica abdicar en rol de garante de derechos fundamentales |url=https://elcomercio.pe/politica/justicia/sentencia-del-tc-sobre-vacancia-presidencial-sustraccion-de-la-materia-no-implica-abdicar-en-rol-de-garante-de-derechos-fundamentales-nndc-noticia/|access-date=2021-05-12|newspaper=El Comercio|language=es}} Later, after Manuel Merino affirmed in a tweet that this decision of the Constitutional Court ratified the constitutionality of his promotion to the presidency,{{Cite news|date=2020-12-09|title=Fact checking: Manuel Merino y su frase falsa sobre el proceso de vacancia|url=https://elcomercio.pe/politica/fact-checking-manuel-merino-y-su-frase-falsa-sobre-el-proceso-de-vacancia-noticia/|access-date=2021-05-12|newspaper=El Comercio|language=es}} the magistrate of the Constitutional Court, Eloy Espinosa-Saldaña, stated that this is not correct because the Constitutional Court did not have any pronouncement and that cannot be understood as ratification as Merino affirmed.{{Cite web|last=Palacios|first=Oswaldo|date=2020-12-08|title=Eloy Espinosa-Saldaña responde a Manuel Merino: El TC no se ha pronunciado sobre la vacancia contra Martín Vizcarra|url=https://rpp.pe/peru/actualidad/eloy-espinosa-saldana-responde-a-manuel-merino-el-tc-no-se-ha-pronunciado-sobre-la-vacancia-contra-martin-vizcarra-noticia-1308733|access-date=2021-05-12|website=RPP|language=es}}{{Cite news|date=2020-12-09|title=Eloy Espinosa-Saldaña: El congresista Manuel Merino está equivocado |url=https://elcomercio.pe/politica/congreso/eloy-espinosa-saldana-el-congresista-manuel-merino-esta-equivocado-nndc-noticia/|access-date=2021-05-12|newspaper=El Comercio|language=es}} However, magistrates such as Ernesto Blume, José Luis Sardón and Augusto Ferrero Costa considered in various interviews that Martín Vizcarra's vacancy was in line with the Political Constitution of Peru.{{Cite web|title=Ernesto Blume: El TC no le ha dado la espalda al país|url=https://canaln.pe/actualidad/ernesto-blume-tc-no-le-ha-dado-espalda-al-pais-n427781|access-date=2021-05-12|website=canaln.pe|date=20 November 2020 |language=es}}{{Cite web|date=2020-11-23|title=José Luis Sardón: Vacancia de Martín Vizcarra no fue un golpe de Estado |url=https://www.expreso.com.pe/politica/jose-luis-sardon-vacancia-de-martin-vizcarra-no-fue-un-golpe-de-estado-entrevista/|access-date=2021-05-12|website=Diario Expreso}}{{Cite web|date=2020-11-20|title=Ferrero: No se puede acusar a 105 congresistas de actuar inconstitucionalmente|url=https://larepublica.pe/politica/2020/11/20/ferrero-no-se-puede-acusar-a-105-congresistas-de-actuar-inconstitucionalmente/|access-date=2021-05-12|website=larepublica.pe|language=es-PE}}

In July 2022, the Permanent Commission of the Congress of the Republic voted to shield Merino from investigations related to the two deaths and 79 injuries that occurred during protests against his government.{{Cite web |title=Permanente ratifica blindaje a Manuel Merino y archiva denuncia constitucional por caso Inti y Bryan |url=https://larepublica.pe/politica/congreso/2022/07/01/manuel-merino-comision-permanente-ratifica-blindaje-y-archiva-denuncia-constitucional-por-caso-inti-y-bryan |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=La Republica |date=July 2022 |language=es}}

In September 2020, while Merino was President of Congress, Ipsos polls found that 72% of Peruvians in urban areas disapproved of Merino while 79% believed that Vizcarra should finish his term.

In November 2020, the month when Merino became president, Ipsos polls showed that 88% percent of Peruvians disapproved of Vizcarra's removal, while only 11% approved. 94% of Peruvians disapproved of Merino's presidency.{{cite news |title=La Crisis Política en el Perú Noviembre 2020 |url=https://www.ipsos.com/sites/default/files/ct/news/documents/2020-11/la_crisis_politica_noviembre_2020.pdf |access-date=9 December 2022 |work=Ipsos |date=November 2020}}

• A {{Note|note_a1}} Peru has two Vice Presidents, a First and Second Vice President. The most recent holders of the office of First and Second Vice President were Vizcarra and Mercedes Aráoz, respectively, who were elected in the 2016 election. Vizcarra left the office of First Vice President vacant after he succeeded Kuzcynski as president, leaving Aráoz as the sole Vice President,{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-america-latina-49890459|title=Disolución del Congreso en Perú: quién es Mercedes Aráoz, que renunció tras ser nombrada 'presidenta en funciones' por el Parlamento peruano para sustituir a Vizcarra|trans-title=Dissolution of Congress in Peru: who is Mercedes Aráoz, who resigned after being named "acting president" by the Peruvian Parliament to replace Vizcarra|work=BBC Mundo|language=es|date=2 October 2019|access-date=6 October 2019}} while Aráoz resigned as Second Vice President on 1 October 2019 after the Congress of Peru named Aráoz acting president the day before after having declared Vizcarra temporarily unfit for office, despite Congress having itself been dissolved earlier that day by President Vizcarra, resulting in a constitutional crisis.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-america-latina-49887706|title=Disolución del Congreso en Perú: 4 claves para entender el enfrentamiento entre Vizcarra y el Parlamento (y lo que puede pasar ahora)|trans-title=Dissolution of Congress in Peru: 4 keys to understanding the confrontation between Vizcarra and Parliament (and what can happen now)|work=BBC Mundo|language=es|date=2 October 2019|access-date=6 October 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-america-latina-49902081|title=Disolución del Congreso de Perú: las dudas sobre la legalidad de la decisión de Vizcarra de disolver la cámara y sobre la suspensión temporal del presidente|trans-title=Dissolution of the Congress of Peru: doubts about the legality of Vizcarra's decision to dissolve the chamber and about the temporary suspension of the president|work=BBC Mundo|language=es|date=2 October 2019|access-date=6 October 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-america-latina-49902304|title=Disolución del Congreso en Perú: renuncia Mercedes Aráoz, nombrada "presidenta en funciones" por el Parlamento en sustitución de Vizcarra|trans-title=Dissolution of Congress in Peru: Mercedes Aráoz, appointed "acting president" by Parliament to replace Vizcarra, resigns|work=BBC Mundo|language=es|date=2 October 2019|access-date=6 October 2019}}{{cite tweet|first=Mercedes|last=Aráoz Fernández|author-link=Mercedes Aráoz|user=MecheAF|date=1 October 2019|title=He decidido renunciar irrevocablemente al cargo de Vicepresidenta Constitucional de la República. Las razones las explico en la carta adjunta. Espero que mi renuncia conduzca a la convocatoria de elecciones generales en el más breve plazo por el bien del país.|trans-title=I have decided to irrevocably resign from the post of Constitutional Vice President of the Republic. The reasons are explained in the attached letter. I hope that my resignation will lead to the calling of general elections in the shortest possible time for the good of the country.|language=es|number=1179221001936211968}} However, her resignation was not official until it was accepted on 7 May 2020 by the new Congress of Peru sworn on 16 March 2020, since in Peru the resignation of the vice president has to be accepted by Congress and that institution was not celebrating meetings given its dissolution.{{cite news|url=https://gestion.pe/peru/politica/congreso-acepta-renuncia-de-mercedes-araoz-a-la-segunda-vicepresidencia-de-la-republica-noticia/|title=Congreso acepta renuncia de Mercedes Aráoz a la segunda vicepresidencia de la República|trans-title=Congress accepts the resignation of Mercedes Aráoz to the second vice-presidency of the Republic|work=Gestión|language=es|date=7 May 2020|access-date=7 May 2020}}

{{reflist}}

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• [https://www.cidob.org/biografias_lideres_politicos/america_del_sur/peru/manuel_merino_de_lama Biography by CIDOB] (in Spanish)

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{{s-ttl|title=President of Peru|years=2020}}

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{{Presidents of Peru}}{{Peruvian Congress (2011–2016)}}{{Peruvian Congress 2020-2021}}{{Peruvian political crisis}}

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Category:1961 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from the Department of Tumbes

Category:Presidents of Peru

Category:Presidents of the Congress of the Republic of Peru

Category:Popular Action (Peru) politicians

Category:21st-century Peruvian politicians