Peru's President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski resigns [View all]

[sandensea]

Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, a market-friendly leader and one of Washington’s allies in Latin America, resigned Wednesday after a secretly recorded video appeared to show his allies trying to buy off an opposition lawmaker to sway a coming impeachment vote, two officials said.

Kuczynski, 79, is stepping down just 19 months after taking office in the wake of allegations of wrongdoing over his past business ties with Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht. He was expected to be impeached and thrown out of office on Thursday by lawmakers.

The scandal leading up to his resignation has rocked Peru, which for years has been one of Latin America’s fastest-growing economies and a darling of Wall Street.

“There is no doubt about [his resignation],” said a government official. “They should air his [resignation speech] in the next half-hour.”

Vice President Martín Vizcarra, currently serving also as Peru’s ambassador to Canada, is expected to take over the government.

At: https://www.wsj.com/articles/perus-president-pedro-pablo-kuczynski-resigns-1521661203

Outgoing President Pedro Kuczynski (right) and his successor, Vice President Martín Vizcarra.