Peru’s Congress, on Monday, chose a 76-year-old former World Bank official as the South American country’s new president, the third in a week.
Francisco Sagasti was elected as lawmakers met to try to find a way out of a political crisis, sparked by the impeachment of one popular president and the resignation of his controversial successor amid protests which killed two people.
Sagasti, a centrist, will serve as interim president until the end of July 2021, completing the mandate of Martin Vizcarra, who was impeached by Congress last Monday.
READ ALSO: https://www.thexpressng.com/2020/11/18/trump-fires-top-us-election-official/
His successor, former Congress speaker Manuel Merino, resigned on Sunday after days of street protests during which two demonstrators were killed.
Congress was meeting for a second time to agree a president and Sagasti secured the minimum 60 votes required.
A first attempt by the legislature to agree on a president failed on Sunday, when leftist lawmaker, Rocio Silva Santisteban, won just 42 votes. (AFP)
