World

Is Peru turning left slowly?

by rahul | October 11, 2008 at 03:53 pm

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After the whole Peruvian Cabinet surrendered its resignation amid a political scandal involving bribery and corruption in granting oil contracts, President Alan Garcia ponders on the nomination of a left wing Prime Minister. This decision to appoint Yehude Simon would allow Garcia to tackle his diminishing popularity, conduct a multy party cabinet and address some urgent social problems. Peru has tried to implement neo liberal policies to no avail. Guerrilla movement as Shining Path and Tupac Amaru have re emerged from the past as social unrest is turning rather common. A 40% of the Peruvian population live in extreme poverty.

LIMA, Peru (AP) - A leftist governor says he has agreed to become the Peru's prime minister, a day after the nation's Cabinet resigned amid a brewing oil kickbacks scandal. Yehude Simon says he will replace outgoing Jorge del Castillo in the position, which heads the president's Cabinet. Simon told Peru's RPP radio Saturday that Foreign Minister Garcia Belaunde and Trade Minister Mercedez Araoz will stay on in their jobs as he builds a new, multiparty Cabinet. The 61-year-old veterinarian served prison time for alleged links to leftist Tupac Amaru guerrillas. He was pardoned in 2000 and elected governor of Peru's Lambayeque province in 2003. President Alan Garcia still must confirm his selection.

Related source: BBC Mundo,