Peru´s Kuczynski: The Gov't Has 'Moved Past a Difficult Moment'

Peruvian president, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski says his government has “moved past a difficult moment.”

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In a meeting on Tuesday morning, Kuczynski said “At last we have overcome” the difficult times “because the accusations didn’t have the least bit of basis.”  

Kuczynski was recently accused of being involved in an Odebrecht corruption scandal with members of Peru’s national assembly accusing him of taking bribes of at least US$782,000 from the Brazilian construction company in exchange for a large-scale highway contract.

He has continually denied any wrongdoing in the case, saying he’s "an honest man" who "never received a bribe."

Congress came close to impeaching the president for "moral incapacity" regarding the allegations but his term in office was saved by a coalition of assembly members wrangled together by former president Alberto Fujimori’s son, Kenji.

The younger Fujimori and Kuczynski deny any clandestine political maneuvering, but it’s widely believed that Kenji saved Kuczynski from impeachment so the president could pardon his imprisoned father in exchange.

Since Fujimori was pardoned thousands of Peruvians have protested throughout the country to reverse the pardon, that members of the United Nations say violates international law.

Until late December the former president, Fujimori, had been jailed since 2007 for crimes against humanity.

“We will continue working to execute projects in different parts of the country,” Kuczynski said while looking ahead to the swear-in ceremony several new ministers in his government.

A total of 18 persons will be appointed to what Kuczynski has described as the 'Cabinet of Reconciliation', which will include the sworn in at 4:00 PM local time. The posts include the ministries of agriculture, defense, commerce, labor, culture, and education. Also, the ministries of the environment and energy and mining.

The changes have been made because of several cabinet members, including his former minister of culture and defense, resigning following Fujimori’s pardon. The new cabinet will also see a reshuffling of ministry heads who remained within the government.