Martín Vizcarra

Vizcarra was born in Lima, the son of César Vizcarra Vargas, who was an American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (APRA) member, and Doris Cornejo, an elementary school teacher. His father was mayor of Moquegua and a member of the Constituent Assembly of 1978. His family was based in Moquegua, but moved to Lima due to a pulmonary complication that put him on the verge of death at his birth. Vizcarra has stated that his father had a lasting impact on his life.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/incoming-peru-president-a-political-novice-facing-tough-odds/2018/03/23/f7ff3e80-2e4f-11e8-8dc9-3b51e028b845_story.html|title=Incoming Peru president a political novice facing tough odds|last1=Briceno|first1=Franklin|date=23 March 2018|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=23 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323065359/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/incoming-peru-president-a-political-novice-facing-tough-odds/2018/03/23/f7ff3e80-2e4f-11e8-8dc9-3b51e028b845_story.html|archive-date=23 March 2018|last2=Armario|first2=Christine|language=en-US|url-status=dead|issn=0190-8286}}

Vizcarra studied at the IEP Juan XXIII and the GUE Simón Bolívar, in Moquegua. For university education, Vizcarra graduated from the National University of Engineering in Lima in 1984{{cite web|title=Voto Informado|url=http://www.votoinformado.pe/voto/hoja-de-vida.aspx?p=pZzKo7tVnqkfndrwJjVjeA==|website=Voto Informado|access-date=23 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628154911/http://www.votoinformado.pe/voto/hoja-de-vida.aspx?p=pZzKo7tVnqkfndrwJjVjeA==|archive-date=28 June 2018|url-status=usurped}} while also earning a degree in Management Administration from ESAN Graduate School of Business.{{cite web|title=Martín Vizcarra Cornejo - Peruanos Por el Kambio - PPK|url=http://ppk.candidatos.com.pe/martin-vizcarra/|website=Peruanos Por el Kambio - PPK|access-date=23 March 2018|language=es-ES|date=16 December 2015}}

His political ambitions began in his home region of Moquegua, where he ran as an independent affiliated with the APRA party for the governorship in 2006, narrowly missing election. In 2008, Vizcarra led protests, known as "Moqueguazo", surrounding unequal mining payments to the community. He travelled to Lima to mediate the crisis, explaining the payment issue to the Peruvian Council of Ministers who agreed to make necessary changes to laws surrounding the issue. This event inspired Vizcarra's further political ambitions.

{{Main article|Governorship of Martín Vizcarra}}

In the 2010 regional elections, Vizcarra was elected to be Governor of Moquegua and served on that position from 1 January 2011, to 31 December 2014. During his tenure, social indexes improved and he avoided corruption issues, an achievement The Washington Post described as "one of the rare examples" in Peru. He also conciliated another mining conflict between mining company Anglo American and residents concerned about potential drinking water contamination by a proposed copper mine, playing a major role in settling the dispute. Vizcarra served as governor until the end of 2014.

Vizcarra was elected into the office of First Vice President of Peru in 2016 general election, running beside Pedro Pablo Kuczynski of the Peruanos Por el Kambio party. Shortly after being elected, he was also tasked with serving as Minister of Transportation and Communications.{{cite news|url=https://rpp.pe/politica/gobierno/martin-vizcarra-renuncio-al-ministerio-de-transportes-y-comunicaciones-noticia-1052244 |title=Martín Vizcarra renunció al Ministerio de Transportes y Comunicaciones |website=RPP Noticias|access-date=10 November 2020|language=es}}

As Minister of Transportation and Communications, Vizcarra served for about one year. During a series of floods in late 2016 and early 2017 which devastated much of Peru, he was tasked with managing the crisis.{{cite news|url=https://elcomercio.pe/politica/martin-vizcarra-reconstruccion-renuncia-chinchero-analisis-425241-noticia/ |title=Martín Vizcarra: entre la reconstrucción y su renuncia por Chinchero [ANÁLISIS] |website=El Comercio|access-date=10 November 2020|language=es}}

With allegations of bribery and bureaucracy plaguing the construction of the Chinchero International Airport in Cusco, Vizcarra cancelled many contracts until an investigation by the Comptroller's Office was completed. After facing complaints by political opponents and being summoned to provide hours of testimony surrounding the project, all while being tasked with providing reconstruction following the flooding that affected Peru, Vizcarra resigned his position as minister. Shortly after his resignation, the Comptroller General Edgar Alarcón recommended legal action against ten officials involved with the airport's construction.{{Cite news|url=https://elcomercio.pe/politica/martin-vizcarra-renuncia-mtc-dejar-efecto-contrato-chinchero-425052|title=Martín Vizcarra renuncia al MTC tras dejar sin efecto contrato de Chinchero|last=Vásquez|first=Rocío la Rosa|date=22 May 2017|work=El Comercio|access-date=23 March 2018|language=es-PE}}

Analysts stated that overall, Vizcarra's performance as minister was positive, but it was plagued by complications from the Fujimori family's political forces, known as Fujimoristas.{{Cite news|url=https://elcomercio.pe/politica/martin-vizcarra-reconstruccion-renuncia-chinchero-analisis-425241|title=Martín Vizcarra: entre la reconstrucción y su renuncia por Chinchero [ANÁLISIS]|last=Chávez|first=Paulo Rosas|date=23 May 2017|work=El Comercio|access-date=23 March 2018|language=es-PE}}

After resigning from the previous ministry, he was appointed to be the Peruvian Ambassador to Canada, avoiding public attention. He only returned to Peru during the first impeachment proceedings against President Kuczynski,{{Cite news|url=http://larepublica.pe/politica/1159960-martin-vizcarra-llegara-al-peru-esta-madrugada-en-medio-de-crisis-presidencial|title=Martín Vizcarra llegó a Perú en medio de gran expectativa [FOTOS]|date=20 December 2017|work=La República|access-date=23 March 2018|language=es}} returning to Canada shortly thereafter.

{{Main|Presidency of Martín Vizcarra}}

Following the resignation of President Kuczynski, Vizcarra returned to Peru to assume the presidency on 23 March 2018, a day after his 55th birthday.{{Cite news|url=https://elcomercio.pe/politica/martin-vizcarra-indignado-situacion-actual-noticia-506303|title=Martín Vizcarra: "Estoy indignado por la situación actual"|author=Redacción EC|date=22 March 2018|work=El Comercio|access-date=23 March 2018|language=es-PE}} Upon being sworn in, Vizcarra stated in regards to corruption, "we've had enough", promising to lead against such practices in the Andean nation.{{cite news|title=Martin Vizcarra Sworn In As Peru's New President|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/03/23/596578223/martin-vizcarra-sworn-in-as-perus-new-president|access-date=24 March 2018|work=NPR|date=23 March 2018|language=en}}

Peruvian author and Nobel laureate in Literature Mario Vargas Llosa stated that Vizcarra's "credentials are pretty good" and that although other Peruvian politicians have faced political controversy, Vizcarra "has acted within the law". Vargas Llosa also noted that if Vizcarra's popularity were to increase enough, "then immediately in Congress, the Fujimoristas will forget their internal struggles and will probably make life difficult for him".{{Cite news|url=https://larepublica.pe/politica/1242125-vargas-llosa-credenciales-martin-vizcarra-son-buenas|title=Vargas Llosa: "Las credenciales de Martín Vizcarra son bastante buenas"|date=13 May 2018|work=La República|access-date=14 May 2018|language=es}}

{{Reduced pull quote|right|We must be responsible to leave a legacy to our children and the future generations of Peru.|Martín Vizcarra|17 April 2018}}On 17 April 2018, President Vizcarra signed the Law for Climate Change, allowing for more funding toward the Ministry of the Environment (MINAM) to monitor and combat climate change by analyzing greenhouse gas emissions while also creating a framework of inter-ministerial cooperation regarding the climate.{{Cite news|url=https://perureports.com/2018/04/17/peru-becomes-the-first-country-in-south-america-to-have-a-climate-change-law/|title=Peru becomes the first country in South America to have a climate change law|date=17 April 2018|work=Peru Reports|access-date=14 May 2018|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://elcomercio.pe/peru/gobierno-promulgo-ley-marco-cambio-climatico-noticia-512735|title=Gobierno promulgó Ley Marco de Cambio Climático|date=18 April 2018|work=El Comercio|access-date=14 May 2018|language=es-PE}}

The signing made Peru the first country in South America to have a climate law, with Vizcarra stating that climate change could no longer be ignored and that the Government of Peru had an obligation to work together to provide a better environment for future Peruvians.

{{See also|2017–2021 Peruvian political crisis}}

{{Main|2018 Peruvian constitutional referendum}}

Following multiple corruption scandals facing the Peruvian government, on 28 July 2018, President Vizcarra called for a nationwide referendum to prohibit private funding for political campaigns, ban the reelection of lawmakers and to create a second legislative chamber.{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-peru-vizcarra/peru-president-proposes-referendum-on-political-judicial-reform-idUSKBN1KI0LV|title=Peru president proposes referendum on political, judicial reform|last=Taj|first=Mitra|work=Reuters|access-date=17 August 2018|language=en-US}}

The Washington Post stated that "Vizcarra’s decisive response to a graft scandal engulfing the highest tiers of the judiciary ... has some Peruvians talking of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to restore integrity to public life and revive citizens’ waning faith in democracy".{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/corruption-scandals-have-ensnared-3-peruvian-presidents-now-the-whole-political-system-could-change/2018/08/11/0cd43ab0-9a82-11e8-a8d8-9b4c13286d6b_story.html|title=Corruption scandals have ensnared 3 Peruvian presidents. Now the whole political system could change.|last=Tegel|first=Simeon|date=12 August 2018|newspaper=The Washington Post|language=en|access-date=17 August 2018}} Leftist lawmaker Marisa Glave, who was once a critic of Vizcarra, praised the move saying he had "connected with the people in a society that is both fed up with corruption but also deeply apolitical. It has put the Fujimoristas in check". Transparency International also praised the move, stating that "This is a very important opportunity, one that is unlike previous opportunities because, in part, the president appears genuinely committed".

Following the temporary detention of Keiko Fujimori, legislators belonging to American Popular Revolutionary Alliance and the Fujimorista-led Popular Force introduced a bill the following day on 11 October 2018 to remove Vizcarra's referendum proposals and to modify the referendum with their own suggestions to the public.{{Cite news|url=https://rpp.pe/politica/congreso/referendum-congresistas-presentan-proyecto-para-retirar-la-bicameralidad-y-no-reeleccion-de-congresistas-noticia-1156070|title=Referéndum {{!}} Congresistas presentan proyecto para retirar la bicameralidad y no reelección de congresistas|work=RPP|access-date=12 October 2018|language=es}}

On 9 December 2018, Peruvians ultimately accepted three of four of the proposals in the referendum, only rejecting the final proposal of creating a bicameral congress when Vizcarra withdrew his support when the Fujimorista-led congress manipulated the proposals contents which would have removed power from the presidency.{{Cite web|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/article222865970.html|title=Exit polling indicates Peruvians vote to fight corruption|last=Briceno|first=Franklin|date=9 December 2018|website=The Miami Herald|language=en|access-date=10 December 2018}}

{{Main|2019 Peruvian constitutional crisis}}

In the Constitution of Peru, the executive branch can dissolve congress after a second vote of no-confidence.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/peru-leader-pushes-vote-that-could-let-him-dissolve-congress/2019/09/27/01d62eba-e15e-11e9-be7f-4cc85017c36f_story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001015322/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/peru-leader-pushes-vote-that-could-let-him-dissolve-congress/2019/09/27/01d62eba-e15e-11e9-be7f-4cc85017c36f_story.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 October 2019|title=Peru leader pushes vote that could let him dissolve congress|last=Briceno|first=Franklin|date=27 September 2019|newspaper=The Washington Post|language=en|access-date=1 October 2019}} Under former president of Peru Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, the Congress of Peru made a no-confidence vote on 15 September 2017, resulting in the collapse of the Cabinet of Peru,{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/4af5ab6feaa04ddd84625394ee6b0d9c|title=Peru's leader names new prime minister as he reforms Cabinet|date=18 September 2017|website=Associated Press|access-date=1 October 2019}} the first vote of no-confidence during that current congressional body. Vizcarra enacted a constitutional process on 29 May 2019 that would create a motion of no confidence towards congress if they refused to cooperate with his proposed actions against corruption.{{Cite web|url=https://lta.reuters.com/articulo/peru-politica-idLTAKCN1SZ2ZD-OUSLT|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530042955/https://lta.reuters.com/articulo/peru-politica-idLTAKCN1SZ2ZD-OUSLT|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 May 2019|title=Presidente de Perú considera disolver Congreso si legisladores no aprueban reforma política - Reuters|date=29 May 2019|website=Reuters|access-date=31 May 2019}} For the next four months, congress delayed bills targeting corruption and postponed general elections proposed by Vizcarra.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/01/perus-president-dissolves-congress-to-push-through-anti-corruption-reforms|title=Peru's president dissolves Congress to push through anti-corruption reforms|date=1 October 2019|work=The Guardian|access-date=1 October 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}

Demanding reforms against corruption, Vizcarra called for a vote of no confidence on 27 September 2019, stating it was "clear the democracy of our nation is at risk". Vizcarra and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights criticized congress for blocking a proposal for general elections while it quickly approved nominations to the Constitutional Court of Peru without investigating the backgrounds on nominees. Vizcarra sought to reform the Constitutional Court nomination process and congress' approval or disapproval of his proposal was seen "as a sign of confidence in his administration".

On 30 September 2019, congress named a new member to the Constitutional Court of Peru, who would most likely decide disputes between congress and the presidency, ignoring his proposal for reform. Vizcarra argued that the appointment by congress was the second act of no-confidence in his government, granting him the authority to dissolve congress. This act, as well as the months of slow progress towards anti-corruption reforms, pushed Vizcarra to dissolve congress later that day, with Vizcarra stating "Peruvian people, we have done all we could". Shortly after Vizcarra announced the dissolution of congress, the legislative body refused to recognize the president's actions, declared Vizcarra as suspended from the presidency and named vice president Mercedes Aráoz as the new president of Peru. Despite this, Peruvian government officials stated that the actions by congress were void as the body was officially closed at the time of their declarations. By nightfall, Peruvians gathered outside of the Legislative Palace of Peru to protest against congress and demand the removal of legislators while the heads of the Peruvian Armed Forces met with Vizcarra, announcing that they still recognized him as president of Peru and head of the armed forces.{{Cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/perus-police-joint-command-perus-050502956.html|title=PERU'S POLICE AND THE JOINT COMMAND OF PERU'S MILITARY BRANCHES SAY THEY RECOGNIZE VIZCARRA AS PRESIDENT AND THE HEAD OF THE ARMED FORCES AND POLICE-STATEMENTS|date=1 October 2019|website=Reuters|language=en-US|access-date=1 October 2019}}

In response to Vizcarra's actions, the media in Peru began a fearmongering campaign, arguing that left-wing political candidates would be elected in the parliamentary elections and attempt to draft a new constitution.{{Cite web |last=Campos |first=Rafael Rodríguez |date=30 October 2019 |title=La reforma constitucional en el Perú |url=https://laley.pe//art/8742/la-reforma-constitucional-en-el-peru |access-date=2023-01-26 |website=La Ley |language=es}}

{{Main|2020 Peruvian parliamentary election}}

In January 2020, the Constitutional Court of Peru defended Vizcarra's actions, with four judges approving and three judges disapproving of the action.{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2020/01/30/the-difficulty-of-reforming-peru|title=The difficulty of reforming Peru|date=30 January 2020|newspaper=The Economist|access-date=6 February 2020|issn=0013-0613}} On 26 January 2020, a legislative election was held to replace the dissolved congress, with the previous Fujimorist majority being replaced with many centrist parties. Analysts Diego Pereira and Lucila Barbeito of JPMorgan Chase & Co described the new congress as being "even more antagonistic to the [Vizcarra] government than the previous one". According to Americas Quarterly, the four main right-wing parties of congress – Alliance for Progress, Podemos Perú, Popular Action and Union for Peru – feared Vizcarra's anti-corruption measures on campaign financing, political transparency and the participation of convicted persons in government.{{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}}

{{Main|COVID-19 pandemic in Peru}}

During Vizcarra's tenure, Peru experienced the second-highest number of COVID-19 cases in Latin America, with 292,004 cases and 10,045 deaths as of 2 July 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/peru/|title=Peru Coronavirus: 439,890 Cases and 20,007 Deaths - Worldometer|website=www.worldometers.info|access-date=5 August 2020}} Medical experts commented that the severity of the outbreak in Peru can be explained at least in part due to existing socioeconomic circumstances.{{cite news|date=26 May 2020|title=Peru seemed to do everything right. So how did it become a Covid-19 hotspot?|work=CNN|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/25/americas/peru-covid-hotspot-why-intl/index.html}} Nearly one-third of Peruvians live in overcrowded homes and 72% have informal jobs, requiring them to work daily. Many Peruvians needed to travel daily to markets to purchase food since only 49% of households own refrigerators or freezers; even in urban areas it is only 61%. Banks also experienced crowding as relief recipients without bank accounts had to go in person to obtain their stimulus payments. Vizcarra's government has responded to the pandemic by maintaining a nationwide lockdown since 15 March 2020, with all businesses except pharmacies, food vendors, financial institutions, and health facilities being closed.{{Cite web|url=https://gestion.pe/peru/politica/coronavirus-en-peru-gobierno-anuncia-cuarentena-obligatorio-por-15-dias-por-coronavirus-noticia/|title=Política: Coronavirus en Perú: Gobierno anuncia cuarentena obligatoria por 15 dí | NOTICIAS GESTIÓN PERÚ|first=NOTICIAS|last=GESTIÓN|date=16 March 2020|website=Gestión|access-date=5 August 2020}}

Peru's gross domestic product fell 30.2 percent in the second quarter of 2020 as a result of economic lockdown measures, the largest decline of all major economies, with many small service businesses that represent the majority of businesses of Peru's economy going bankrupt during the crisis.{{Cite web|last=Quigley|first=John|date=20 August 2020|title=Peru Leads Global Economic Crash With 30.2% Quarterly Drop|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-08-20/peru-leads-regional-economic-crash-with-30-2-quarterly-drop|access-date=24 August 2020|website=Bloomberg News}} Employment also dropped 40 percent compared to the previous rate while the Peruvian government approved 128 billion PEN ($35.8 billion USD) of tax relief and low-rate business loans to deter further economic decline.

The impeachment processes were led by the imprisoned Antauro Humala and his Union for Peru (UPP) party, according to reports in Peru.{{Cite web|title=A Notorious Rebel Leader Just Got Peru's President Impeached From Prison|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/a-notorious-rebel-leader-just-got-perus-president-impeached-from-prison/|access-date=14 November 2020|website=Vice News|date=12 November 2020 |language=en}} Humala was sentenced to 19 years in prison following his Andahuaylazo uprising against President Alejandro Toledo that resulted in the deaths of police. From his cell, Humala reportedly orchestrated the impeachment process with members of congress and his UPP supporters. Edgar Alarcón, a UPP congressman and a close supporter of Humala, took charge with the impeachment processes against Vizcarra, making the charges that began both trials. Alarcón himself, according to Vice News, was protected from criminal charges of embezzlement and illicit monetary gains due to parliamentary immunity, charges that could have resulted with seventeen years in prison.

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

As Peru's economy declined due to the pandemic, Vizcarra faced increased political pressure from the newly inaugurated congress presided by Manuel Merino, with the majority of the legislative body being controlled by those opposing Vizcarra.{{Cite web|last=Quigley|first=John|date=10 September 2020|title=Peru's Congress to Consider Impeaching President Over Tapes|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-11/peru-president-says-opponents-seeking-to-remove-him-from-power|access-date=11 September 2020|website=Bloomberg}} Since early 2020, investigations began surrounding a contract for a little-known singer Richard Cisneros to perform speeches for the Ministry of Culture. It was alleged that an inexperienced Cisneros was able to receive payments totaling US$50,000 due to contacts in the Government Palace.

Investigators searched offices in the Government Palace on 1 June 2020 regarding the alleged irregularities. According to IDL-Reporteros, lobbyist Karelim López provided opposition lawmaker Edgar Alarcon audio recordings.{{Cite web |date=2021-12-29 |title=El entorno de los brujos |url=https://www.idl-reporteros.pe/el-entorno-de-los-brujos/ |access-date=2022-05-10 |website=IDL Reporteros}}{{Cite web |date=2021-12-04 |title=¿Cuál es la relación entre Karelim López y Karem Roca? |url=https://larepublica.pe/politica/2021/12/03/cual-es-la-relacion-entre-karelim-lopez-y-karem-roca-pedro-castillo-bruno-pacheco/ |access-date=2022-05-10 |website=La Republica |language=es}} On 10 September 2020, Alarcon, who faced possible parliamentary immunity revocation related to alleged acts of corruption, released audio recordings purporting that Vizcarra acted with "moral incapacity".{{Cite web|title=Presidente de Perú: "no voy a renunciar. Yo no me corro"|url=https://p.dw.com/p/3iJGZ|date=11 September 2020|access-date=11 September 2020|website=Deutsche Welle|language=es-ES}}{{Cite web|title=Peru: President Vizcarra denounces plot against democracy|url=https://andina.pe/agencia/noticia-peru-president-vizcarra-denounces-plot-against-democracy-813332.aspx|access-date=11 September 2020|website=Andina|date=10 September 2020 |language=es}} The recordings allegedly contain audio of Vizcarra instructing his staff to say that he met with Cisneros only on a limited number of occasions and audio of Cisneros saying that he influenced Vizcarra's rise to office and decision to dissolve congress.

Merino quickly initiated a movement to remove Vizcarra from office. As President of Congress, Merino would assume the presidential office if Vizcarra was vacated. Vizcarra responded to the release of the recordings, stating, "I am not going to resign. I am not running away" and that the "audios have been edited and maliciously manipulated; as you can see, they purposely seek to turn a job-related claim into a criminal or political act, wanting to take words out of context and intend to accuse me of non-existent situations. Nothing is further from reality".

On 11 September 2020, the Peruvian Congress voted 65–36 with 24 abstentions to open impeachment proceedings against Vizcarra for "moral incapacity". At least 52 votes in favor were needed to approve the opening of the impeachment proceedings.{{Cite news|title=Peru's Martin Vizcarra faces impeachment for 'moral incapacity'|website=Al Jazeera|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/09/peru-martin-vizcarra-faces-impeachment-moral-incapacity-200912033957837.html|date=12 September 2020|access-date=12 September 2020}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/12/peru-lawmakers-begin-impeachment-of-president-martin-vizcarra|title=Peru lawmakers begin impeachment of president Martín Vizcarra|website=The Guardian|date=12 September 2020|access-date=12 September 2020}} After reports emerged that Merino reportedly reached out to the Peruvian armed forces to support the process and was forming his own cabinet, support among lawmakers for impeaching Vizcarra decreased.

As scheduled, Vizcarra appeared in Congress on 18 September to defend himself and delivered a 20-minute speech after its session began. After a 10-hour debate, Congress voted 32–78 with 15 abstentions against removing Vizcarra from office, far from the 87 votes (out of 130) that were needed by the opposition to impeach him.{{Cite news|title=Peru's President Martin Vizcarra survives impeachment vote|website=Al Jazeera|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/09/peru-president-martin-vizcarra-survives-impeachment-vote-200919050215705.html|date=19 September 2020|access-date=19 September 2020}}{{Cite news|title=Peru President Vizcarra survives impeachment vote|website=Bangkok Post|url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/1988203/peru-president-vizcarra-survives-impeachment-vote|date=19 September 2020|access-date=19 September 2020}} Had Vizcarra already been impeached by that time, Merino would have already acted as interim leader until the current presidential term ends in July 2021.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/1984131/perus-congress-votes-to-open-impeachment-proceedings-against-president|title=Peru's Congress votes to open impeachment proceedings against president|website=Bangkok Post|date=12 September 2020|access-date=12 September 2020}}

{{Main|Removal of Martín Vizcarra|2020 Peruvian protests}}

In a separate impeachment trial, lawmakers from nine opposition parties accused Vizcarra of corruption and mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. He was also accused of accepting bribes from companies that won at least two public works contracts—one for a hospital and another for an irrigation project—during his term as governor of Moquegua Department.{{Cite news|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3109196/peru-veers-towards-political-crisis-after-vizcarra-removed|title=Peru veers towards political crisis after Vizcarra removed as president|website=South China Morning Post|date=10 November 2020|access-date=11 November 2020}} On 9 November 2020, a total of 105 members of Congress voted to remove Vizcarra from office, exceeding the 87 votes (out of 130) that were needed to impeach him.{{Cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/11/10/americas/peru-martin-vizcarra-president-impeachment-intl/index.html|title=Peru plunged into political upheaval as Congress ousts President Vizcarra|website=CNN|date=10 November 2020|access-date=11 November 2020}}{{Cite web|title=Los 105 congresistas que votaron a favor de la vacancia de Vizcarra|url=https://canaln.pe/actualidad/vacancia-vizcarra-105-congresistas-votaron-favor-n427599|access-date=23 May 2021|website=canaln.pe|date=15 November 2020 |language=es}} Vizcarra called the accusations baseless and false, but still accepted the vote by Congress and promised not to take any other legal action.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/10/impeachment-kicks-out-president-martin-vizcarra-of-peru|title=Peru's president Martín Vizcarra ousted in impeachment vote|website=The Guardian|date=10 November 2020|access-date=11 November 2020}}

Vizcarra's impeachment was considered by many as a coup d'état. It is suggested that the audios about alleged bribes were influenced and promoted by prosecutor Germán Juárez Atoche, with the collaboration of employees of Obrainsa, a company in Moquegua. An editorial in La República in 2020 indicated that the regular leaks and the adoption of their content by politicians who supported the impeachment, as well as the change of attitude of lawyers towards the previously criticized prosecutors, offered an answer to those who questioned these events. According to the editorial, this showed that there is no such thing as a perfect coup d'état.{{cite web|access-date=2021-09-30 |language=es |last=Editorial |title=Fiscal, consultor y golpista |url=https://larepublica.pe/opinion/2020/11/23/fiscal-consultor-y-golpista-editorial |website=larepublica.pe|date=23 November 2020 }}

Thousands of citizens then gathered in protests against Vizcarra's impeachment.{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/11/10/933334195/in-midst-of-pandemic-crisis-perus-legislature-impeaches-the-nations-president|title=In Midst Of Pandemic Crisis, Peru's Legislature Impeaches The Nation's President|website=NPR|date=10 November 2020|access-date=11 November 2020}} Manuel Merino, who succeeded him as president the following day, resigned on 15 November.{{Cite news |last1=Kurmanaev |first1=Anatoly |last2=Taj |first2=Mitra |date=15 November 2020 |title=After Six Days on the Job, Peru's Interim President Steps Down Amid Protests |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/15/world/americas/peru-president-resigns.html |access-date=15 November 2020 |issn=0362-4331}} Francisco Sagasti was made President of Congress on the 16th and thus succeeded Merino as President of Peru on 17 November per Peru's presidential line of succession, since both vice presidential positions were vacated by Vizcarra in 2018 and Mercedes Aráoz in May 2020.{{Cite news|url=https://elcomercio.pe/politica/congreso/mercedes-araoz-congreso-aprueba-la-renuncia-a-la-vicepresidencia-de-la-republica-martin-vizcarra-noticia/|title = Mercedes Araoz: Congreso aprueba la renuncia a la vicepresidencia de la República | Martín Vizcarra | | POLITICA| newspaper=El Comercio |date = 8 May 2020 | last1=Hidalgo Bustamante | first1=Martin }}{{cite web|last=Dube|first=Ryan|date=16 November 2020|title=Peru's Congress Chooses Lawmaker Francisco Sagasti as Next President|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/perus-congress-chooses-lawmaker-francisco-sagasti-as-next-president-11605557142|access-date=16 November 2020|work=The Wall Street Journal}}

Vizcarra announced on 27 November 2020 that he would campaign for a seat in congress for the 2021 Peruvian congressional election, joining the We Are Peru party, a party that voted for his removal just weeks before.{{Cite web|date=28 November 2020|title=Martín Vizcarra confirma que postulará al Congreso por el partido Somos Perú {{!}} NNDC {{!}} PERU|url=https://gestion.pe/peru/martin-vizcarra-confirma-que-postulara-al-congreso-por-el-partido-somos-peru-nndc-noticia/|access-date=4 December 2020|website=Gestión|language=es}}{{Cite web|date=28 November 2020|title=El ex presidente de Perú, Martín Vizcarra, se postulará al Congreso en abril de 2021|url=https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2020/11/28/el-ex-presidente-de-peru-martin-vizcarra-se-postulara-al-congreso-en-abril-de-2021/|access-date=4 December 2020|website=Infobae|language=es-ES}} The We Are Peru party's presidential candidate Daniel Salaverry welcomed Vizcarra to the party. If elected into congress, Vizcarra would obtain parliamentary immunity from the investigations that resulted with his removal from the presidency. When asked if attempting to avoid prosecution for corruption was his motivation to run for congress, Vizcarra stated "One of the flags that I am going to carry in this electoral process, to be fulfilled in Congress if elected, is precisely to completely reform the concept of parliamentary immunity, ... It cannot be that the Congress of the Republic has used parliamentary immunity".

Vizcarra won the congressional race, though he would later be banned from holding public office in Peru.{{Cite web|date=17 April 2021|title=Peru's Vizcarra banned from public office over vaccine scandal|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/17/perus-vizcarra-banned-from-public-office-over-vaccine-scandal|access-date=17 April 2021|website=Al Jazeera|language=en}}

{{Main|Vacunagate}}

In February 2021, the scandal known as Vacunagate broke out, in which it was revealed that in October 2020 Vizcarra, alongside his family and friends, was vaccinated with the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine before it was able to reach the Peruvian public.{{cite news|last=Hidalgo|first=Martín|date=17 February 2021|title='Vacunagate': Estas son las 487 personas que recibieron la vacuna Sinopharm|url=https://elcomercio.pe/politica/gobierno/vacunagate-estas-son-las-487-personas-que-recibieron-la-vacuna-de-sinopharm-noticia/|access-date=26 March 2021|work=El Comercio|publisher=Grupo El Comercio|location=Lima|language=Spanish|quote=}} The revelation sparked controversy, as at the time the Vizcarra government said there was still no negotiations regarding the COVID-19 vaccine.{{Cite news|last=PERÚ|first=NOTICIAS EL COMERCIO|date=17 February 2021|title='Vacunagate' {{!}} Lista de vacunados: Estas son las 487 personas que recibieron la vacuna Sinopharm de China {{!}} UPCH {{!}} PCM {{!}} Vacuna COVID-19 {{!}} Coronavirus Perú {{!}} Universidad Cayetano Heredia {{!}} {{!}} POLITICA|url=https://elcomercio.pe/politica/gobierno/vacunagate-estas-son-las-487-personas-que-recibieron-la-vacuna-de-sinopharm-noticia/|access-date=23 May 2021|newspaper=El Comercio|language=es}} On 16 April 2021, the Congress of Peru in an 86 to 0 vote decided to ban Vizcarra from public office for a ten-year period. He was found guilty of influence peddling, collusion and making false declarations.

On 12 March 2021, the prosecutor Germán Juárez Atoche requested preventive detention for 18 months for Vizcarra. This was within the framework of the investigation for the alleged crimes of aggravated collusion, improper passive bribery and illicit association to commit a crime.{{Cite web|date=13 March 2021|title=Perú: solicitan prisión preventiva para expresidente Martín Vizcarra|url=https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2021/03/13/fiscal-en-peru-solicita-prision-preventiva-para-martin-vizcarra/|access-date=12 May 2021|website=CNN|language=es}} The hearing was scheduled for 17 March,{{Cite web|title=Martín Vizcarra: Se suspendió hasta el jueves la audiencia de prisión preventiva contra exmandatario|url=https://canaln.pe/actualidad/martin-vizcarra-miercoles-17-marzo-se-realizara-audiencia-prision-preventiva-contra-expresidente-n432452|access-date=12 May 2021|website=canaln.pe|date=17 March 2021 |language=es}} where Judge María de los Ángeles Álvarez Camacho, after hearing both reasons from the prosecution and the defense of Vizcarra, rejected{{Cite web|title=Poder Judicial rechazó pedido de prisión preventiva contra Martín Vizcarra y le impone comparecencia con restricciones|url=https://canaln.pe/actualidad/martin-vizcarra-se-reanudo-audiencia-prision-preventiva-18-meses-contra-expresidente-n432664|access-date=12 May 2021|website=canaln.pe|date=19 March 2021 |language=es}} the request for preventive detention and appearance with restrictions was imposed.{{Cite web|last=PERÚ|first=Empresa Peruana de Servicios Editoriales S. A. EDITORA|title=Martín Vizcarra: Poder Judicial rechaza prisión preventiva en su contra|url=https://andina.pe/agencia/noticia-martin-vizcarra-poder-judicial-rechaza-prision-preventiva-su-contra-838042.aspx|access-date=12 May 2021|website=andina.pe|date=18 March 2021 |language=es}}

On 18 March 2024, the Peruvian Public Prosecutor's Office raided the home of Martin Vizcarra, in the most luxurious neighborhood of the country, in the midst of an investigation against him for alleged corruption in a road construction program during his administration.{{Cite web |date=Mar 18, 2024 |title=Allanan domicilio de expresidente peruano Martín Vizcarra por presunto caso de corrupción |url=https://www.latimes.com/espanol/internacional/articulo/2024-03-18/allanan-domicilio-de-expresidente-peruano-martin-vizcarra-por-presunto-caso-de-corrupcion |website=Los Angeles Times}}

During Vizcarra's inauguration ceremony, some Peruvians took to the streets to protest against the government, calling for the removal of all politicians. Weeks later, an Ipsos survey in April 2018 found that out of those asked Vizcarra had an approval rate of 57%, a disapproval rate of 13% while about 30% of respondents were undecided.{{cite news|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2018-04-15/perus-vizcarra-begins-presidency-with-57-pct-approval-rating|title=Peru's Vizcarra Begins Presidency With 57 Pct Approval Rating|date=15 April 2018|work=U.S. News & World Report|access-date=16 April 2018}} A month later, Vizcarra's approval rating dipped to 52% according to a May 2018 Ipsos survey.{{Cite news|url=https://elcomercio.pe/politica/comercio-ipsos-52-aprueba-gestion-martin-vizcarra-noticia-519634|title=El Comercio-Ipsos: El 52% aprueba la gestión de Martín Vizcarra|date=13 May 2018|work=El Comercio|access-date=14 May 2018|language=es-PE}} By September 2018 after he had called for a referendum, thousands of Peruvians marched in support of his proposal and to protest against Congress,{{Cite web|url=https://worldview.stratfor.com/situation-report/peru-protesters-demand-president-close-congress-hold-referendum|title=Peru: Protesters Demand President Close Congress, Hold Referendum|date=13 September 2018|website=Stratfor|language=en|access-date=14 September 2018}} with Ipsos reporting that Vizcarra's approval rating reached a peak of 66% in December 2018.{{Cite news|url=https://elcomercio.pe/politica/respaldo-presidente-martin-vizcarra-cae-12-puntos-encuesta-salvador-solar-noticia-626429|title=El Comercio-Ipsos: respaldo al presidente Martín Vizcarra cae 12 puntos|date=14 April 2019|website=El Comercio|language=es|access-date=31 May 2019}}

Into 2019, Ipsos polls showed that support for Vizcarra began to decline early in the year, that his approval rating in April 2019 was at 44% compared to 45% disapproval and that approval ratings were higher among upper-income respondents compared to lower-income respondents. By the time Vizcarra dissolved congress, The Washington Post described him as "an unexpectedly popular president" as he dealt with "the monumental task of rooting out the South American nation’s widespread corruption". After the dissolution of congress, Vizcarra's approval rating jumped from about 40% to 75% according to the Institute of Peruvian Studies (IEP), while 76% of respondents recognized him as the constitutional president of Peru.{{Cite web|url=https://rpp.pe/politica/actualidad/disolucion-del-congreso-martin-vizcarra-84-de-peruanos-apoya-la-disolucion-del-congreso-noticia-1223173|title=Disolución del Congreso {{!}} Martín Vizcarra {{!}} 84% de peruanos apoya la disolución del Congreso|website=RPP|date=6 October 2019|language=es|access-date=7 October 2019}} Another poll by Peruvian pollster CPI found 85.1% of respondents approved of Vizcarra and 89.1% recognized him as president.{{Cite web|url=https://publimetro.pe/actualidad/disolucion-del-congreso-peru-martin-vizcarra-el-895-de-acuerdo-con-cierre-del-parlamento-segun-encuesta-de-cpi-noticia/|title=Disolución del Congreso: 89.5% está de acuerdo, según encuesta|last=Perú|date=5 October 2019|website=Metro International|language=es|access-date=8 October 2019}}

During the early months of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, approval ratings for Vizcarra spiked to 87% in March 2020 and gradually decreased in the following months.{{cite news |title=Informe de Resultados, Estudio de opinión El Comercio - Ipsos Perú, octubre de 2020 |url=https://www.ipsos.com/sites/default/files/ct/news/documents/2020-10/la_gestion_publica_octubre_2020_-_encuesta_de_opinion_el_comercio-ipsos.pdf |access-date=9 December 2022 |work=Ipsos |date=26 October 2020}}

In November 2020, the month of Vizcarra's second impeachment and removal from office, a poll by Ipsos polling firm showed that 88% percent of Peruvians disapproved of Vizcarra's removal, while only 11% approved.{{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}} The October 2020 Ipsos poll stated that 54% of Peruvians approved of Vizcarra while 41% disapproved. By contrast, the Congress of Peru had a 60% disapproval rating in October 2020, and when President of Congress Manuel Merino assumed the office of President of Peru after Vizcarra's ousting by Congress, 94% of Peruvians disapproved of Merino's presidency.

{{expand section|date=December 2022}}

Following Peru's 2020 legislative elections that replaced an unpopular congress, The Economist wrote "By championing the fight against corruption, Mr Vizcarra has achieved the rare feat for a Peruvian president of remaining popular". Americas Quarterly penned that Vizcarra had "overwhelming public support", but without a political party or allies in congress, his anti-corruption initiatives faced resistance.

Vizcarra is described as a centrist{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ecuador-venezuela/ecuador-tightens-entry-requirements-for-venezuelans-as-influx-swells-idUSKBN1L12IM|title=Ecuador, Peru tighten entry requirements for Venezuelans as influx swells|last=Valencia|first=Alexandra|date=16 August 2018|work=Reuters|access-date=17 August 2018|language=en-US|quote=Centrist Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra took office in March ...}} and he has attributed his political beliefs as stemming from his father, with Vizcarra saying that his guidance made him concerned about social issues. He values his ability to "know how to listen" and to "go step by step", with his supporters often describing him as a bridge builder who is able to mediate complicated situations. Left-wing parties applauded Vizcarra's anti-corruption efforts, his dissolution of congress and his attempts to move forward with general elections.{{Cite web|url=https://www.americasquarterly.org/content/whats-next-martin-vizcarras-anti-corruption-crusade-peru|title=Showdown in Peru: What's Next for Vizcarra's Anti-Corruption Drive?|last=Tegel|first=Simeon|date=7 June 2019|website=Americas Quarterly|language=en|access-date=22 November 2019}}{{Cite web|url=http://country.eiu.com/article.aspx?articleid=988278882&Country=Peru&topic=Politics|title=Vizcarra drops political bombshell|date=29 July 2019|website=The Economist Intelligence Unit|access-date=22 November 2019}}

File:La alcaldesa entrega la Llave de Oro de Madrid al presidente de Perú 11.jpg]]

• "Mi Bebito Fiu Fiu", a song about Vizcarra's alleged infidelity.

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Commons category-inline}}
• [https://www.cidob.org/biografias_lideres_politicos/america_del_sur/peru/martin_vizcarra_cornejo Biography by CIDOB] (in Spanish)

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