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Peru Congress vote: Election follows September dissolution Peru Congress vote: Election follows September dissolution
(about 3 hours later)
Peruvians have been voting to elect a new Congress after the previous one was dissolved by President Martín Vizcarra.Peruvians have been voting to elect a new Congress after the previous one was dissolved by President Martín Vizcarra.
Mr Vizcarra took the drastic step in September, arguing that lawmakers were obstructing his anti-corruption agenda.Mr Vizcarra took the drastic step in September, arguing that lawmakers were obstructing his anti-corruption agenda.
Polls suggest that half of the voters are undecided, making the election for the 130-seat chamber unpredictable. Exit polls suggested the new Congress will be fragmented with the biggest party Popular Action, gaining less than 12% of the vote.
Twenty-one parties are running. Polls indicate at least seven parties will win seats in Congress and centrist politicians could win a majority. The exit polls also indicate Popular Force, which was the dominant party in the last Congress, gained only 7%.
Polls closed at 16:00 local time (21:00 GMT) with the first results expected soon. Popular Front is led by Keiko Fujimori, the daughter of the disgraced former President Alberto Fujimori.
A judge is due to decide next week whether Mrs Fujimori returns to preventative custody while she faces corruption charges. She denies any wrong-doing.
The new Congress will be short-lived - it will be replaced in next year's general elections.
Fragmentation ahead?Fragmentation ahead?
The right-wing Popular Force, which was the dominant party in the last Congress, is expected to lose seats but to still emerge with a sizeable number of lawmakers.
The party is led by Keiko Fujimori, the daughter of disgraced former President Alberto Fujimori. Mr Fujimori was found guilty of human rights abuses and corruption.
Ms Fujimori is awaiting trial on charges of corruption, which she denies.
Under Peru's electoral laws, parties need to achieve at least 5% of the popular vote or seven elected legislators to gain representation. The high number of undecided voters could result in a fragmented assembly.Under Peru's electoral laws, parties need to achieve at least 5% of the popular vote or seven elected legislators to gain representation. The high number of undecided voters could result in a fragmented assembly.
President Vizcarra had made the fight against corruption his main priority when he took power in March 2018 after then-President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski resigned over a vote-buying scandal. When parties, including the Popular Force, blocked his efforts, he dissolved Congress.President Vizcarra had made the fight against corruption his main priority when he took power in March 2018 after then-President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski resigned over a vote-buying scandal. When parties, including the Popular Force, blocked his efforts, he dissolved Congress.
His tough anti-corruption stance endeared him to Peruvians tired of the endless scandals that have tainted not only Mr Kuczynski but also the three previous Peruvian presidents.His tough anti-corruption stance endeared him to Peruvians tired of the endless scandals that have tainted not only Mr Kuczynski but also the three previous Peruvian presidents.
Shortly before polls opened, Mr Vizcarra said maximum effort should go into reaching consensus to achieve the best for the country.Shortly before polls opened, Mr Vizcarra said maximum effort should go into reaching consensus to achieve the best for the country.
Peru's scandal-tainted presidents:Peru's scandal-tainted presidents:
Brazil's Odebrecht corruption scandal explainedBrazil's Odebrecht corruption scandal explained
Voting is mandatory in Peru, Latin America's fifth-largest economy, and some 25 million people are eligible to vote. The new Congress will finish the current legislative term, which ends in July 2021.Voting is mandatory in Peru, Latin America's fifth-largest economy, and some 25 million people are eligible to vote. The new Congress will finish the current legislative term, which ends in July 2021.
Earlier this month, the constitutional court said President Vizcarra, a centrist politician, had not exceeded his powers when he dissolved the chamber.Earlier this month, the constitutional court said President Vizcarra, a centrist politician, had not exceeded his powers when he dissolved the chamber.
Opposition lawmakers had denounced the dissolution of Congress as a coup but the heads of the armed forces and the police backed the president. Supporters of Mr Vizcarra turned out to show their approval of the move.Opposition lawmakers had denounced the dissolution of Congress as a coup but the heads of the armed forces and the police backed the president. Supporters of Mr Vizcarra turned out to show their approval of the move.