The Latest: Peru protesters demand new elections amid crisis


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LIMA, Peru (AP) — The latest on political turmoil in Peru (all times local):

8:05 p.m.

Several thousand protesters gathered in Peru's capital say they are outraged not just at Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski but all of congress, which is debating whether to accept the leaders offer to resign amid allegations of wrongdoing.

The demonstrators are chanting "Throw them all out!" and demanding new elections. Some held up signs featuring photocopies of recent headlines like "Leaders of crime."

Local polls say about half of Peruvians want to see early elections for both congress and the president as faith in the nation's leaders continues to deteriorate.

Two former presidents stand accused of accepting bribes from Odebrecht, the Brazilian construction giant at the center of Latin America's biggest corruption scandal. A third is under investigation.

Congress is debating whether to accept Kuczynski's resignation offer following revelations of his own links to Odebrecht. Lawmakers are expected to vote on the matter Friday.

Kuczynski has denied any wrongdoing.

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6:20 p.m.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is celebrating the downfall of his fiercest critic — President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski of Peru.

Maduro said Thursday on state TV that while Kuczynski has sought to bar Venezuela's leader from next month's Summit of the Americas, it is the former Wall Street investor who will conspicuously absent from the regional gathering in Peru.

Peruvian lawmakers are expected to vote Friday on whether to accept Kuczynski's offer to resign or instead hold a vote on impeaching him amid corruption allegations.

Taking aim at Peru's leader, Maduro said "the stench of corruption exploded in his face."

Kuczynski has been leading like-minded conservative leaders in Latin America in trying to isolate Venezuela's government for human rights abuses. It's unclear, however, if Kuczynski's successor would re-invite Maduro to the summit, and there is even talk that the conference scheduled to start in three weeks could be called off.

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5:50 p.m.

Debate has begun in Peru's congress over whether to accept President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski's offer to resign.

Lawmakers are not expected to vote on the issue until Friday.

The debate is expected to be heated. But so far, only one of the four legislative blocs that have spoken says it want to reject Kuczynski's resignation offer and instead impeach him on corruption charges.

If congress does vote to accept Kuczynski's resignation, lawmakers would then swear in his replacement, Vice President Martin Vizcarra.

Opposition lawmakers have accused Kuczynski of failing to disclose $782,000 in payments from the giant Brazilian construction company Odebrecht to his private consulting firm over a decade ago when he was serving as a government minister.

Kuczynski has denied any wrongdoing.

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11:45 a.m.

Court officials say a judge will consider a request to bar President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski from leaving the country if congress accepts the embattled leader's resignation.

Congress is expected to debate Thursday whether to accept Kuczynski's offer to step down or proceed with planned impeachment proceedings over his ties to Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht. Authorities did not address whether the request would be considered if the conservative leader is impeached.

Kuczynski would lose his presidential immunity after exiting the post regardless, making him more vulnerable to prosecution.

Opposition lawmakers accuse the president of failing to disclose $782,000 in payments from Odebrecht to his private consulting firm over a decade ago when he was serving as a government minister.

Kuczynski has denied any wrongdoing.

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10:30 a.m.

Peru's congress is gearing up to consider whether or not to accept President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski's resignation following the release of several videos appearing to show allies offering state contracts in exchange for a vote against his pending impeachment.

Leaders of the powerful, opposition-controlled congress will begin debating late Thursday afternoon.

Some factions are already vowing to reject Kuczynski's resignation and proceed with a scheduled impeachment vote instead.

Such a move would not be unprecedented. Congress rejected former Peruvian strongman Alberto Fujimori's resignation in 2000 following a turbulent decade in power marred by grave human rights violations. Legislators then proceeded to impeach him instead.

The latest upheaval marks one of the worst political crises in Peru's recent history and is another fallout from the regionwide Odebrecht corruption scandal.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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