Presidency of Francisco Sagasti

The presidency of Francisco Sagasti was Peru's transitional national administration from 17 November 2020 until 28 July 2021. It emerged from a severe constitutional and political crisis in which Congress had removed President Martín Vizcarra, interim president Manuel Merino had assumed office, and Merino resigned after widespread demonstrations and deaths. Congress then elected Sagasti, a legislator from the Partido Morado, as president of Congress, placing him in the line of constitutional succession for the remainder of the 2020–2021 presidential term. Sagasti's administration was defined by limited duration, institutional repair, and crisis management rather than by a conventional long-term political program. It operated during the COVID-19 pandemic, a deep economic downturn, social unrest, and persistent distrust between Congress, the executive branch, political parties, and civil society. Violeta Bermúdez served as president of the Council of Ministers and led a cabinet intended to stabilize the state while preparing the country for the 2021 general elections. One of the government's earliest contentious decisions was the restructuring of the senior command of the National Police. Sagasti announced the appointment of César Cervantes as commanding general, a decision that led several senior officers to resign or retire and prompted criticism from former interior and defense ministers. Supporters described the move as an effort to restore accountability after police violence during the November 2020 protests; critics argued that the appointment disregarded seniority rules and exceeded what was appropriate for a transitional government. The administration also confronted major labor and transport disputes. An agrarian strike began in late November 2020 as agro-export workers demanded repeal of the existing agricultural promotion regime and better labor protections. Congress ultimately repealed the law after negotiations failed, while protests caused highway blockades and deaths. A nationwide transport strike in March 2021 brought demands concerning fuel taxes, tolls, regulatory fines, and transport costs. Government negotiations eventually produced an agreement under which transport unions reopened the country's main highways. Pandemic policy was the administration's central operational challenge. The government introduced differentiated restrictions based on provincial health-alert levels, imposed quarantine in areas classified as being at extreme risk, and later used curfews, Sunday movement restrictions, and temporary holiday measures. Peru's first large shipment of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines arrived in February 2021, and vaccination began immediately afterward. The government subsequently announced agreements and arrangements involving Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, Sputnik V, and the COVAX facility, with the stated objective of securing more than 90 million doses for eligible residents. The rollout was damaged by the Vacunagate scandal, which revealed that political figures and officials had received vaccines outside the established priority process. Health minister Pilar Mazzetti resigned and was replaced by Óscar Ugarte. Despite the controversy, the vaccination program continued, initially prioritizing health workers, public-safety personnel, armed forces, police, firefighters, cleaning workers, older adults, and people with specified medical conditions. The administration also ran public-health communication campaigns including “No bajemos la guardia,” which urged continued mask use, handwashing, distancing, and avoidance of crowds; “Dile no a las 3 C,” focused on close contact, closed spaces, and crowded places; and “Pongo el hombro,” which promoted vaccine confidence through testimony from vaccinated citizens and frontline workers. The 2021 presidential election was held during Sagasti's term. After Pedro Castillo received the most votes in the runoff count, Keiko Fujimori and Popular Force submitted hundreds of challenges and alleged electoral fraud. Peru's electoral authorities rejected the claims, while observers from the Organization of American States, the European Union, International IDEA, and the civil-society organization Transparencia characterized the process as credible. Castillo was formally proclaimed president-elect on 19 July 2021. Sagasti completed the scheduled transfer of power on 28 July 2021, when Castillo assumed the presidency.

Sagasti's presidency began on 17 November 2020 in extraordinary circumstances. Peru had passed through several presidential successions during the same constitutional term after Congress removed Martín Vizcarra and Manuel Merino resigned amid intense public opposition. Sagasti, then a member of Congress and affiliated with the Partido Morado, was elected president of Congress and assumed the national presidency through constitutional succession. His mandate was limited to completing the term and organizing the transition to the government chosen in the 2021 elections. The administration combined the characteristics of a caretaker government and an emergency government. It inherited a country facing high COVID-19 mortality, economic contraction, strained public services, political polarization, and widespread institutional distrust. Violeta Bermúdez headed the Council of Ministers. The cabinet sought congressional confidence while presenting a program centered on restoring democratic normality, managing the pandemic, supporting economic recovery, and ensuring credible elections. The government's first major institutional controversy involved the National Police. Sagasti announced a new senior command headed by César Cervantes. Several senior generals resigned, while a substantial number of officers were retired. Critics argued that Cervantes's position in the seniority ranking made the appointment inconsistent with the governing police framework. Former security ministers and former police commanders publicly questioned the legality and suitability of the changes. The episode illustrated the administration's difficult balance between reforming institutions and respecting the constraints of a transitional mandate. Social conflict quickly became another defining issue. Agro-export workers in Ica and other regions began an indefinite strike on 30 November 2020, objecting to the agricultural promotion regime and demanding improved wages and working conditions. Highway blockades disrupted transport and commerce. A dialogue led by the labor ministry did not resolve the dispute, and Congress eventually repealed the agricultural promotion law and created a multiparty process to design a replacement labor regime. The protests resulted in deaths and injuries before road blockades were lifted and later resumed in the absence of a replacement framework. A separate transport dispute escalated in December 2020 and again in March 2021. Transport unions protested fuel taxation, tolls, enforcement by transport regulators, and fines. The March action spread across numerous regions and temporarily blocked access to Lima's international airport. A government commission negotiated with union representatives, and an agreement led to the reopening of the country's main highways. COVID-19 remained the administration's principal policy challenge. Authorities categorized provinces according to health-alert levels and imposed restrictions ranging from curfews to strict quarantines. In January 2021, Sagasti announced a quarantine covering Lima, Callao, and several other areas classified as being at extreme risk. The measure was extended and reorganized by province before being replaced by less comprehensive controls, including curfews, Sunday restrictions, and temporary holiday quarantines. Vaccination began in February 2021 after the arrival of an initial Sinopharm shipment. The first priority groups included healthcare workers and other frontline personnel, followed by older adults and additional eligible populations. The administration announced supply arrangements with several manufacturers and through COVAX. The rollout was overshadowed by Vacunagate, in which individuals connected to the government received vaccines outside the public priority scheme. Health minister Pilar Mazzetti resigned, Óscar Ugarte replaced her, and the government stated that the national vaccination program would continue. Public communication campaigns attempted to reinforce prevention and vaccine acceptance. “No bajemos la guardia” encouraged continued compliance with basic precautions, while “Dile no a las 3 C” warned against close contact, closed spaces, and crowds. “Pongo el hombro” sought to make vaccination more socially acceptable by featuring vaccinated healthcare workers, security personnel, older adults, and other citizens. The 2021 elections were conducted during the administration's final months. After Pedro Castillo gained an advantage in the runoff count, Keiko Fujimori's campaign filed hundreds of challenges and alleged fraud. Peru's electoral institutions rejected the claims, and domestic and international observers broadly endorsed the process. Castillo was formally proclaimed president-elect on 19 July 2021. Sagasti's administration ended on 28 July 2021 with the peaceful transfer of power to Castillo.

• 2021

  COVID-19 vaccination begins

  [1]Presidency of Francisco Sagastien.wikipedia.org

  Peru began public COVID-19 vaccination on 8 February after receiving its first large Sinopharm shipment.

• 2021

  Pedro Castillo is proclaimed president-elect

  [1]Presidency of Francisco Sagastien.wikipedia.org

  After electoral challenges were rejected, Pedro Castillo was formally proclaimed president-elect on 19 July.

• 2021

  Power is transferred to Pedro Castillo

  [1]Presidency of Francisco Sagastien.wikipedia.org

  Sagasti completed the transitional term and transferred the presidency to Castillo on 28 July.

• 2020

  Congress elects Sagasti and he assumes the presidency

  [1]Presidency of Francisco Sagastien.wikipedia.org

  Following Manuel Merino's resignation, Congress elected Francisco Sagasti as president of Congress, enabling him to assume Peru's presidency through constitutional succession on 17 November.

• 2020

  National Police command is reorganized

  [1]Presidency of Francisco Sagastien.wikipedia.org

  The administration appointed César Cervantes as commanding general and retired or replaced numerous senior officers, producing a dispute over police law and seniority.

• 2020

  Agrarian promotion regime is repealed

  [1]Presidency of Francisco Sagastien.wikipedia.org

  After a nationwide labor conflict involving agro-export workers, Congress repealed the agricultural promotion law and began work toward a replacement regime.

Short-term constitutional and emergency administration focused on democratic continuity, pandemic response, institutional stabilization, and the organization of general elections.

• 2021

  Vacunagate

  The scandal concerned the vaccination of officials and connected individuals outside the publicly announced priority process. It led to the resignation of health minister Pilar Mazzetti and intensified scrutiny of government conduct, although the national vaccination program continued under Óscar Ugarte.

  Source

Read more

• 2021Dile no a las 3 C

  Peru

  A campaign warning citizens against close contact, closed spaces, and crowded places, the three settings identified as increasing transmission risk.

  Outcome. Supported public awareness efforts during the pandemic.

  Source
• 2021Pongo el hombro

  Peru

  A vaccination-confidence campaign featuring testimonies from vaccinated healthcare workers, armed-forces personnel, older adults, and other citizens.

  Outcome. Supported vaccine acceptance and demand as the national immunization program expanded.

  Source
• 2020No bajemos la guardia

  Peru

  A public-health communication campaign urging people to maintain handwashing, mask use, physical distancing, and avoidance of crowded places despite changing restrictions.

  Outcome. Used as part of the government's continuing COVID-19 prevention messaging.

  Source

• 2021

  Extreme-risk quarantine and tiered restrictionsStrategy

  Background

  Rising COVID-19 transmission required the government to combine nationwide rules with geographically differentiated health-alert measures.

  Action taken

  The executive imposed quarantine in selected extreme-risk regions and provinces, then adjusted the measures through curfews, Sunday restrictions, and temporary holiday quarantines.

  Aftermath

  Restrictions were gradually recalibrated as the government sought to limit transmission while reducing the economic and social costs of a nationwide lockdown.

  Source

• 2021

  Launch of Peru's COVID-19 vaccination programProduct launch

  Background

  Peru received an initial shipment of 300,000 Sinopharm vaccine doses as the administration sought to protect frontline workers and secure additional supplies.

  Action taken

  Vaccination began on 8 February, initially prioritizing healthcare workers and other frontline groups before expanding to older adults and additional eligible populations.

  Aftermath

  The program continued after the Vacunagate scandal, with the government reporting agreements or arrangements involving Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, Sputnik V, and COVAX.

  Source

• 2021

  Negotiated settlement of the national transport strikeStrategy

  Background

  Cargo and interprovincial transport operators sought lower fuel-related costs, changes to toll arrangements, and relief from regulatory fines.

  Action taken

  The government formed a cross-ministry commission and negotiated with transport unions through the transport and communications ministry.

  Aftermath

  Union representatives agreed to reopen blocked highways, ending the indefinite strike.

  Source

• 2020

  Reorganization of National Police leadershipOther

  Background

  The administration sought to change the senior police command shortly after taking office during a period of public concern about police conduct and institutional accountability.

  Action taken

  Sagasti appointed César Cervantes as commanding general and approved the retirement or replacement of numerous senior officers.

  Aftermath

  Several senior generals resigned, and former ministers and police commanders disputed the legality of the appointment and retirements.

  Source

• 2020

  Constitutional challenge to the ONP refund lawOther

  Background

  Congress approved a measure authorizing the return of up to S/4,300 in contributions to the Office of Pension Normalization, after the previous executive had objected to the proposal.

  Action taken

  Sagasti warned that the executive would challenge the measure and the Council of Ministers approved an unconstitutionality lawsuit before the Constitutional Court.

  Aftermath

  The legal dispute placed the transitional executive in conflict with Congress over pension policy and constitutional limits.

  Source

• 2020

  Response to the agrarian strikeOther

  Background

  Agro-export workers demanded repeal of the agricultural promotion framework and stronger labor protections, while highway blockades disrupted transport in several regions.

  Action taken

  The executive attempted dialogue and sent Congress a proposal to modify the labor provisions. After Congress chose repeal, Sagasti stated that he would not object to the law.

  Aftermath

  The law was repealed, but the lack of an immediate replacement regime contributed to renewed blockades. The unrest caused at least 12 deaths and dozens of injuries.

  Source

1. 1Presidency of Francisco Sagastien.wikipedia.org