Presidency of Martín Vizcarra
The Peruvian presidential administration led by Martín Vizcarra from March 2018 until his removal by Congress in November 2020.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
The presidency of Martín Vizcarra was the government of Peru formed after Pedro Pablo Kuczynski resigned amid a prolonged confrontation with Congress and allegations connected to corruption. Vizcarra, Kuczynski’s first vice president and Peru’s ambassador to Canada at the time of the resignation, returned to Peru and was sworn in as president on March 23, 2018. His administration operated in the context of the political crisis that had followed the 2016 general election, when Kuczynski narrowly defeated Keiko Fujimori but faced an opposition-controlled Congress dominated by Fujimori’s Popular Force. Vizcarra presented himself as a centrist to center-right reformer. His government used the slogan “Peru first” and emphasized institutional renewal, transparency, the fight against corruption, education, and public services. The administration’s central political project was to reform the judiciary, political parties, campaign finance rules, congressional immunity, and the structure of Congress. These proposals were strongly shaped by a 2018 judicial corruption scandal, commonly associated with the “CNM Audios,” which undermined confidence in judges, prosecutors, and political institutions. The executive’s relationship with Congress remained adversarial. Vizcarra used votes of confidence and the possibility of constitutionally dissolving Congress to pressure lawmakers to consider his reform agenda. In December 2018, voters approved three of four constitutional referendum proposals: restructuring the body responsible for judicial appointments, regulating private political financing, and prohibiting the immediate reelection of members of Congress. The proposed restoration of a bicameral legislature was rejected after Vizcarra withdrew his support when Congress altered the proposal. In 2019, Vizcarra proposed shortening the terms of Congress and the presidency and holding early general elections. Congress rejected the initiative. On September 30, 2019, after Congress proceeded with the selection of Constitutional Court judges despite an executive request for a confidence vote and reform of the process, Vizcarra dissolved Congress and called legislative elections. Congress attempted to suspend him and designate Mercedes Aráoz as interim president, but the move failed to gain effective institutional support. The Constitutional Court later upheld the dissolution, and a new legislature was elected in January 2020. The administration also pursued climate, gender-equality, and public-safety measures. In April 2018, Peru adopted a national climate-change law that strengthened the coordinating role of the environment ministry. Following public anger over violence against women, the government created an emergency commission, increased police readiness, promoted multisectoral coordination, and launched initiatives such as Men for Equality. The government’s immigration policy toward Venezuelans was more restrictive and was criticized as xenophobic. The final phase of the presidency was dominated by COVID-19. Peru imposed one of Latin America’s early nationwide lockdowns, restricted movement, and authorized economic relief. These measures were undermined by informal employment, overcrowded housing, limited household refrigeration, weak health capacity, and the need for many citizens to collect assistance in person. The pandemic exposed deep socioeconomic inequalities and placed hospitals under severe pressure. In September 2020, Congress initiated an impeachment process over allegations that Vizcarra had attempted to obstruct investigations into the hiring of singer Richard Cisneros, known as “Richard Swing.” A first impeachment vote failed. After additional audio recordings and testimony emerged, Congress approved a second vacancy motion on November 9, 2020, removing Vizcarra for “moral incapacity.” Many observers and international commentators considered the removal politically motivated and insufficiently supported by evidence. It triggered protests and was followed by a short-lived government led by congressional president Manuel Merino. The Vizcarra presidency therefore ended as it had begun: amid institutional conflict, disputed constitutional practices, and public distrust of Peru’s political class.
History
Martín Vizcarra’s administration emerged from Peru’s unresolved post-2016 political crisis. Vizcarra had been elected first vice president on Pedro Pablo Kuczynski’s ticket and became president when Kuczynski resigned on March 21, 2018. He was inaugurated two days later. The succession was constitutionally grounded but politically fragile, since Congress remained controlled by opposition forces associated with Keiko Fujimori and had already used its oversight powers aggressively against the previous government. Vizcarra’s opening strategy was to claim the role of an institutional reformer rather than a conventional party politician. He promised to confront corruption, improve education and public administration, and restore confidence in state institutions. The judicial crisis of 2018 gave urgency to this program. Recordings involving judges, prosecutors, and intermediaries suggested the existence of influence networks within the justice system. Vizcarra responded by supporting the replacement and restructuring of the National Council of the Magistracy and by calling for broader political reforms. His 2018 referendum package addressed four issues: judicial appointments, private political donations, congressional reelection, and the restoration of a bicameral Congress. The electorate approved the first three proposals. Vizcarra opposed the bicameralism proposal after Congress modified it in ways he believed weakened executive authority. The referendum strengthened his public image as an anti-corruption president, but it did not resolve the structural conflict between the executive and legislature. That conflict intensified in 2019. Vizcarra proposed advancing national elections so that a new Congress and president could take office before the normal end of their terms. Opposition lawmakers rejected the proposal. The decisive confrontation concerned the appointment of Constitutional Court magistrates. Vizcarra argued that Congress was attempting to complete the appointments without adequately considering the executive’s request for a confidence vote and procedural reforms. On September 30, he announced the dissolution of Congress, asserting that the legislature had effectively denied confidence to his government for a second time. Congress’s attempt to suspend him and install Mercedes Aráoz did not prevail. The armed forces, public institutions, and much of the public continued to recognize Vizcarra. The Constitutional Court later upheld the dissolution, and the January 2020 election produced a new, fragmented legislature. Outside the constitutional crisis, the government enacted a climate-change law and introduced policies addressing violence against women. It also adopted a restrictive approach to Venezuelan migration, including documentation requirements that drew criticism from human-rights observers. These policies illustrated the administration’s mixed political character: institutionally reformist in its anti-corruption agenda, but more conservative or restrictive on some social and migration issues. The COVID-19 emergency became the administration’s largest operational challenge. Peru imposed a strict national lockdown soon after confirming its first cases and offered financial support to vulnerable households. The response was rapid, but implementation was hindered by high levels of informal work, limited savings, overcrowded homes, insufficient health infrastructure, and dependence on in-person cash distribution. The pandemic exposed long-standing failures in social protection and public health and caused severe economic and humanitarian consequences. In 2020, allegations concerning the government’s relationship with entertainer Richard Cisneros generated a new political crisis. Congress first failed to obtain the votes needed to remove Vizcarra, but a second vacancy motion succeeded on November 9. The stated constitutional basis was permanent moral incapacity, although critics argued that the evidence was insufficient and that the proceedings reflected congressional opportunism. Vizcarra’s removal was followed by mass protests, the resignation of interim president Manuel Merino, and a further succession under Francisco Sagasti. The presidency is consequently remembered for substantial reform initiatives and decisive constitutional confrontations, but also for political instability and an unresolved debate over the limits of impeachment and congressional power in Peru.
- 2020
New parliamentary election
[4]Peru elected a replacement Congress after the Constitutional Court upheld the dissolution.
- 2020
Nationwide COVID-19 lockdown
[5]The administration imposed nationwide confinement and emergency relief measures in response to the pandemic.
- 2020
Removal from office
[6]Congress approved a second vacancy motion and ended Vizcarra’s presidency on November 9.
- 2019
Congress dissolved
[3]Vizcarra dissolved the legislature after the executive and Congress disputed a confidence vote concerning Constitutional Court appointments.
- 2018
Vizcarra assumes the presidency
[1]Martín Vizcarra became president following Pedro Pablo Kuczynski’s resignation and pledged to fight corruption and strengthen public institutions.
- 2018
Climate-change law enacted
[1]Vizcarra signed legislation establishing a framework for interministerial climate policy and strengthening the environment ministry’s coordinating role.
- 2018
Constitutional referendum
[2]Voters approved three anti-corruption and political-reform proposals and rejected the proposed return to a bicameral Congress.
Products and positioning
A reformist presidential administration centered on anti-corruption measures, institutional transparency, political reform, and executive confrontation with Congress.
Controversies
2020
Richard Swing affair
Congress investigated allegations that Vizcarra had attempted to obstruct inquiries into government contracts involving entertainer Richard Cisneros, known as Richard Swing.
2018
Judicial corruption recordings
Audio recordings involving judges and other justice-sector figures exposed alleged influence trading and corruption, prompting institutional reform demands and reshaping Vizcarra’s presidency.
Marketing campaigns
- 2020COVID-19 containment and relief
Peru
The government imposed a nationwide lockdown, restricted nonessential activity, and distributed emergency assistance to households affected by the pandemic.
Outcome. The rapid response slowed some initial transmission but was severely strained by informal employment, health-system weaknesses, overcrowding, and difficulties distributing aid.
- 2018Anti-corruption and institutional reform agenda
Peru
The administration promoted judicial restructuring, campaign-finance controls, limits on congressional reelection, and greater transparency in public institutions.
Outcome. Three referendum proposals were approved, although the wider reform program remained incomplete because of congressional resistance.
- 2018Measures against violence against women
Peru
Following public protests over femicide and gender-based violence, the government created an emergency commission, placed police stations on heightened alert, coordinated ministerial responses, and promoted the Men for Equality program.
Outcome. The campaign increased governmental coordination and public attention, but violence against women remained a major national problem.
Brand decisions
2020
Nationwide pandemic restrictionsOtherBackground
Peru confirmed COVID-19 cases amid limited health capacity and a large informal economy.
Action taken
The administration ordered nationwide confinement, restricted movement, and authorized relief programs.
Aftermath
The measures exposed major implementation and social-protection weaknesses as infections and hospital pressure increased.
2019
Proposal for early general electionsStrategyBackground
The executive argued that legislative obstruction prevented completion of its reform agenda.
Action taken
Vizcarra proposed ending the presidential and congressional terms early and holding new elections.
Aftermath
Congress’s Constitution and Rules Committee rejected the proposal in September 2019.
2019
Dissolution of CongressOtherBackground
The executive and legislature disputed whether Congress had denied confidence for a second time by proceeding with Constitutional Court appointments.
Action taken
Vizcarra dissolved Congress and called a legislative election under the 1993 Constitution’s dissolution mechanism.
Aftermath
The Constitutional Court upheld the measure, and a replacement Congress was elected in January 2020.
2018
Call for a constitutional anti-corruption referendumStrategyBackground
Congressional resistance and the judicial corruption crisis created pressure for direct public approval of institutional reforms.
Action taken
Vizcarra proposed four constitutional amendments covering judicial appointments, political financing, congressional reelection, and bicameralism.
Aftermath
Voters approved three proposals in December 2018 and rejected bicameralism.
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