Kuczynski Warns of Chaos as Peru Opposition Mulls Impeachment

(Bloomberg) -- Peru's President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski warned a new move to oust him would destabilize the country as opposition lawmakers consider sending a second impeachment motion to Congress as early as this week.

A new impeachment attempt would create “tremendous chaos,” Kuczynski said via Twitter Monday. He added there are no grounds for his ouster, and urged Congress to work with the government in the interests of the country.

The president faces the threat of a second impeachment attempt in less than three months as opposition parties accuse him of lying to Congress over alleged ties to the disgraced Brazilian builder Odebrecht SA. Daniel Salaverry, a lawmaker with Popular Force, told Canal N the party will take a decision Tuesday whether to support the motion being discussed with other parties. If approved, the motion could be presented to Congress Wednesday.

Still, support for impeachment among some members of the biggest opposition party has waned since the first attempt on Dec. 21. Twelve Popular Force lawmakers led by Kenji Fujimori have quit the party in recent weeks, the latest departure coming on Monday, which leaves it with 59 members. Kenji Fujimori has pledged support for the government and said last week he plans to set up his own party.

Other parties are also divided, including the Apra party. Mauricio Mulder, an Apra lawmaker told reporters that while he supports impeachment, he won't go against the majority view within the party. He added the motion should be voted after March 16, when Kuczynski is due to speak to a congressional committee investigating the so-called Carwash bribery scandal involving Odebrecht and other construction firms.

To contact the reporter on this story: John Quigley in Lima at jquigley8@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Vivianne Rodrigues at vrodrigues3@bloomberg.net, Philip Sanders

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