28-03-2018: Latin American Weekly Report

Martín Vizcarra delivered a confident inaugural address after being sworn- in as Peru’s new president on 23 March. Peru might be in rude economic health but it is politically ailing. This could paradoxically provide Vizcarra with an opportunity to serve out the presidential term of Pedro Pablo Kuczynski (whose resignation was accepted by congress shortly before his investiture), which ends in 2021. Vizcarra said he would channel resources from the country’s economic growth into improving health and education, prioritising the country’s more remote regions. He also admonished Peru’s discredited political class for putting power above the people. It is a clever ploy. If Vizcarra were to get the public onside it would insulate him against potential attacks from an opposition-controlled congress.