Presidency of Martín Vizcarra

In the 2016 general election, Vizcarra ran with the Peruvians for Change presidential ticket as Pedro Pablo Kuczynski's running mate candidate for first vice president, narrowly defeating Keiko Fujimori's Popular Force ticket.

Upon the resignation of President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski on 21 March 2018, Martín Vizcarra returned to Peru from Canada, where he had been serving as Peru's ambassador in Ottawa. Vizcarra assumed the presidency, expressing his response to the political crisis through a Twitter statement prior to his inauguration. In his message, Vizcarra acknowledged widespread public frustration with the country's situation and emphasized his commitment to collaborative efforts aimed at moving the nation forward.

Martín Vizcarra was inaugurated as President of Peru on March 23, 2018, the day following his 55th birthday, succeeding Pedro Pablo Kuczynski. The inauguration ceremony began at 13:04 PET, with Vizcarra taking the presidential oath of office. At 13:05 PET, the president of Congress, Luis Galarreta, officially bestowed upon him the presidential sash. Vizcarra delivered his inaugural address to the nation (Mensaje a la Nación) at 13:11 PET, in which he emphasized a commitment to improving education, strengthening national institutions, and addressing corruption. In reference to the country's corruption challenges, he declared, “we've had enough,” pledging to confront corruption “at any cost.”

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Following multiple corruption scandals facing the Peruvian government, on July 28, 2018, during his Annual Message to the Nation, President Martín Vizcarra proposed a national referendum to approve four constitutional amendments aimed at addressing corruption in Peru. These reforms sought to: (1) restructure the National Council of the Magistracy, the body responsible for appointing judges and prosecutors, (2) prohibit private funding for political campaigns, (3) ban the reelection of parliamentarians, and (4) reinstate a bicameral system in Congress.^[4]

In his address, Vizcarra emphasized the need to strengthen state institutions to combat criminal organizations and corruption.^[4] He called for broad public participation, stating that a referendum would reinforce democratic processes.^[4] His initiative garnered support from several organizations, including Transparency International, which noted that Vizcarra's commitment to reform was a rare and valuable opportunity for Peru.^[5] Similarly, The Washington Post highlighted that his firm response to a corruption scandal involving the judiciary had generated optimism about restoring integrity in public life.^[5]

Political reactions varied. Leftist lawmaker Marisa Glave, previously critical of Vizcarra, praised the proposal, acknowledging its resonance with a populace disillusioned by corruption yet disengaged from politics.^[5] The initiative posed a challenge to the Fujimorist bloc in Congress, which initially resisted efforts to implement judicial and legislative reforms, causing delays.^[6]

Faced with opposition from Congress, Vizcarra threatened to invoke a constitutional provision allowing the president to dissolve the legislature if it denied a second vote of confidence.^[7] The first denial had occurred during the administration of Vizcarra's predecessor, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski. This ultimatum pressured Congress into initiating the referendum approval process.^[7] 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 proposal content which would have removed power from the presidency.^[8]

President Martín Vizcarra faced significant opposition in Congress as he sought to advance anti-corruption reforms, which included stricter campaign finance regulations and the removal of parliamentary immunity from prosecution. Encountering resistance, Vizcarra proposed early presidential and legislative elections during his Annual Message on July 28, 2019, suggesting a constitutional reform to conclude both congressional and presidential terms by July 28, 2020. He announced that this proposal would be submitted to Congress and, if approved, put to a public referendum. The proposal was met with strong opposition from members of the Fujimorist Popular Force and Aprista factions in Congress. These lawmakers argued that advancing elections would lead to further political instability, with opposition leader Pedro Olaechea stating that Congress should fulfill its full five-year term to uphold legislative authority. Meanwhile, Minister of Justice Vicente Zeballos indicated that the executive branch was prepared to seek a vote of confidence from Congress to secure approval for the early elections proposal if necessary.

On September 26, 2019, the Congressional Constitution and Rules Committee ultimately rejected the bill, declaring it unconstitutional and effectively ending the legislative push to advance the general elections.

In Peru, the 1993 Constitution allows the executive branch to dissolve Congress if two votes of no confidence are issued.^[9][10] Under President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, Congress made its first no-confidence vote on September 14, 2017,^[9] resulting in the collapse of the Cabinet.^[11] On May 29, 2019, President Martín Vizcarra invoked this constitutional mechanism, announcing he would call for a second vote of no confidence if Congress failed to support his anti-corruption reforms.^[12]

For the following months, Congress postponed discussions on Vizcarra's proposed reforms and his call for early elections.^[10] By September 27, 2019, in a Message to the Nation, citing a threat to democratic governance, Vizcarra issued a matter of confidence on the election process of the Constitutional Court magistrates, criticizing Congress for advancing nominations without sufficient vetting while obstructing proposed election reforms.^{[9][note 1]} This matter of confidence sought that Congress suspend the election of magistrates, approve the proposed modifications, and apply them to the selection process. Vizcarra saw congressional approval of his proposals as a test of their confidence in his administration.^[9]

On September 30, 2019, Congress moved forward with a new Constitutional Court appointment, effectively ignoring Vizcarra's reform proposal.^[10] Viewing this as a second vote of no confidence, Vizcarra announced the dissolution of Congress, stating, “Peruvian people, we have done all we could.”^[10] He then called for new parliamentary elections.^[10]

In response, Congress attempted to declare Vizcarra suspended from office and appointed Vice President Mercedes Aráoz as interim president.^[10] However, the Peruvian government deemed these actions void, as Congress had been officially dissolved. That evening, citizens gathered outside the Legislative Palace, protesting Congress's actions,^[10] while leaders of Peru's armed forces confirmed their recognition of Vizcarra as president.^[13] This reaffirmation of power was widely supported by Peru's institutions, and polls showed Vizcarra retained popular support.

Following these events, 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.^[14]

In January 2020, the Constitutional Court of Peru upheld President Vizcarra's decision to dissolve Congress, with a narrow ruling of four judges in favor and three against.^[15] A legislative election was subsequently held on January 26, 2020, to form a new Congress. This election resulted in the replacement of the previous Fujimorist majority with a range of centrist parties.^[15] However, analysts Diego Pereira and Lucila Barbeito of JPMorgan Chase & Co. noted that the new Congress could be "even more antagonistic to the [Vizcarra] government than the previous one."^[16]

According to Americas Quarterly, the four primary right-leaning parties in Congress—Alliance for Progress, Podemos Perú, Popular Action, and Union for Peru—expressed concerns over Vizcarra's anti-corruption policies. These policies included stricter regulations on campaign financing, improved political transparency, and restrictions on the participation of individuals with criminal convictions in government roles.^[17]

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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.^[18][19]

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.^[18][19]

President Martín Vizcarra's administration prioritized urgent measures to address escalating violence against women in Peru, an issue highlighted by several high-profile cases that provoked widespread concern. One such case was that of Eyvi Ágreda Marchena, a 22-year-old woman who became a victim of gender-based violence in Lima. On April 24, 2018, Ágreda was attacked on a public bus by an individual who doused her with gasoline and set her on fire. Despite multiple surgeries, she succumbed to her injuries on June 1, 2018. Her case ignited public outcry, leading to nationwide protests under the slogans “Women for Justice” and Ni Una Menos (Not One Less) on August 11, 2018. The perpetrator, Carlos Hualpa, was arrested and later sentenced to 35 years in prison for aggravated femicide.

In response to the surge in femicides and attacks on women, President Vizcarra's government implemented several key initiatives:

1. Emergency Commission: The government established a commission, led by the Prime Minister and composed of ministers from relevant sectors, to oversee actions against gender-based violence.
2. Police Station Alerts: All police stations across the country were placed on permanent alert to better respond to incidents of violence.
3. Multisectoral Coordination: The administration emphasized coordinated efforts across various sectors to address violence against women comprehensively.
4. “Men for Equality” Program: This program was introduced to promote gender equality and to address cultural factors contributing to violence.

Additionally, President Vizcarra requested legislative authority from Congress to enact further measures to combat violence against women, including laws targeting harassment in both public and private spaces.

The administration of President Martín Vizcarra responded promptly to the COVID-19 pandemic, implementing containment measures shortly after Peru's first confirmed case. Analysts noted that the severe impact of COVID-19 in Peru was partially attributed to socioeconomic conditions. Approximately one-third of Peruvians live in overcrowded housing, and 72% work informally, making daily income essential. Limited access to food storage contributed to the challenge; only 49% of households own refrigerators or freezers, a figure that rises to 61% in urban areas, necessitating frequent market visits. Banks also faced overcrowding, as unbanked citizens were required to collect government stimulus payments in person.

On March 15, 2020, a nationwide lockdown was enforced, with only essential services such as pharmacies, food vendors, banks, and healthcare facilities permitted to operate. This crisis exposed significant limitations in Peru's economic model in securing health, food, and social protections for its population. Public hospitals quickly became overwhelmed, and many patients turned to private clinics, which demanded advance payments ranging from S/25,000 to S/70,000 for treatment. Under the constitutional framework established in 1993, which prioritizes "entrepreneurial and market freedoms," the government had limited authority to regulate private healthcare. Eventually, the State assumed financial responsibility for patient care after reaching an agreement with private providers, but only after Vizcarra threatened nationalization as a measure for national security.

The pandemic also highlighted issues within the oxygen supply system. Prices of oxygen cylinders rose sharply as demand increased, reflecting limited state control over market pricing. To address the crisis, the government financed university-led initiatives to produce affordable oxygen. However, state intervention was restricted by the 1993 Constitution, which limits public sector involvement in areas where private enterprises are active. A longstanding policy requiring oxygen production at concentrations above international standards—benefiting private producers—further strained supply and was repealed only amid critical shortages.

Peru's private health sector faced criticism for a lack of regulation, as private companies held significant control over insurance, health services, and medical supplies, often with minimal price oversight. 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. Employment also dropped 40 percent compared to the previous rate while the Peruvian government approved 128 billion PEN (US$35.8 billion) of tax relief and low-rate business loans to deter further economic decline. The challenges posed by the pandemic underscored both the strengths and vulnerabilities of Peru's market-oriented healthcare structure.

To prevent economic collapse during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Peruvian government, under then-President Martín Vizcarra, launched the Programa de Garantías Reactiva Perú ("Reactiva Perú Guarantee Program") on April 6, 2020. This initiative aimed to sustain the chain of payments by providing financial guarantees to businesses of all sizes—micro, small, medium, and large—enabling them to secure working capital loans to meet immediate obligations, such as payroll and payments to suppliers.

However, allocation of the Reactiva Perú funds favored larger corporations, which absorbed 71% of the program's capital. Micro and small enterprises received 23%, while medium-sized businesses accounted for 4%. The transfer of funds was facilitated by private banks, as Banco de la Nación—Peru's sole public bank—is restricted to serving government employees and retirees. Consequently, private banks primarily channeled the loans, with some reportedly transferring funds to their parent companies or affiliated entities within their corporate groups, raising questions about the equitable distribution of resources intended to stabilize the broader economy.