PERU: Kuczynski Swears In New Cabinet

(RTTNews) - Peru's President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski on Sunday swore in his new cabinet after the country's Congress rejected the confidence vote requested by then prime minister Fernando Zavala.

The decision forced five ministers to step down and led Kuczynski to form a new government team while ratifying the remaining 13 ministers.

Zavala requested the vote last week, after accusing the parliamentary majority of censorship. He also said that the cabinet is undermining the educational reforms proposed by the government and forced the resignation of the Minister of Education, Marilú Martens. She is under fire due to her allegedly pivotal role in a teacher's strike that lasted for 45 days.

The new Peruvian ministers are Claudia Cooper (Economy and Finance) Carlos Bruce (Housing, Construction and Sanitation) Enrique Mendoza (Justice and Human Rights).

Meanwhile, Mercedes Aráoz swore as president of the Council of Ministers, becoming the second person to assume this position under Kuczynski.

According to the Peruvian Constitution, if Congress twice refuses to support an entire cabinet of ministers, the president is empowered to dissolve the parliament and to convene a legislative election.