Peruvian President Dissolves Parliament Monday Sep 30,2019

President Martín Vizcarra of Peru ordered Congress to dissolve on Monday night Sep 30,2019, prompting lawmakers to try to suspend him and plunging the nation into uncertainty after a grinding, yearslong corruption crisis.

Opposition lawmakers responded to the president’s decision by accusing Mr. Vizcarra of staging “a coup” and moved swiftly to suspend him for 12 months. They nominated his vice president, Mercedes Aráoz, as the new acting head of state.

“I accept this with fortitude,” Ms. Aráoz said before Congress of a provisional presidency. “It is one of the most difficult decisions I have made in my life.”

Under Peruvian law, new parliamentary elections would be held within four months once the Congress dissolves. It was unclear, however, whether the lawmakers would comply with Mr. Vizcarra’s order and what actions the president was prepared to take to put the dissolution into effect.

Opposition lawmakers continued to occupy the Congress for hours after Mr. Vizcarra’s order. Some said they would resist any attempt to physically remove them, and threatened to depose the president for violating the Constitution.