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Peruvian President Defends Himself Against Impeachment

VOA News

   Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra told lawmakers Friday that he had
   committed no crime and would not be cowed ahead of an impeachment
   hearing.

   "I am here, with my head high and my conscience clear," Vizcarra said
   in a speech to Congress, adding that the country should not be
   "distracted" from real challenges.

   "Let's not generate a new crisis, unnecessarily, that would primarily
   affect the most vulnerable," he said.

   Peru has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, along with an
   economic contraction.

   Lawmakers planned to vote later Friday on whether to oust Vizcarra from
   office. The impeachment proceeding is centered on the president's
   relationship with a little-known singer, Richard Cisneros, who was
   given $50,000 in government contracts.

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