Peru's entire cabinet offers to resign over corruption allegations

[Judi Lynn]

Peru's entire cabinet offers to resign over corruption allegations
Posted : Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:30:09 GMT
Author : DPA

Lima - The entire Peruvian cabinet handed in their resignations en masse to President Alan Garcia on Thursday over corruption allegations. Jorge del Castillo, head of the Peruvian Council of Ministers, and all the cabinet members offered to resign at a time when Congress is making progress on a vote of no-confidence against them.

A rare union of opposition legislators is likely to allow the no- confidence vote to pass with 70 votes in favour, when only 61 are required, analysts said.

Legislators refused to listen to Del Castillo and his ministers on Thursday and asked them to address Congress on Tuesday, the day of the no-confidence motion.

The Peruvian government was severely weakened Sunday, after a TV programme aired a recorded conversation between a lobbyist and a state official in charge of granting oil contracts about plans to favour a Norwegian firm in exchange for bribes.

Both men are members of the ruling Aprista Party. The Norwegian firm Discover Petroleum was granted five contracts.

More:
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/236293,perus-entire-cabinet-offers-to-resign-over-corruption-allegations.html

Another story today shows Alan Garcia's popularity is at 19%. He's the candidate _{George W. Bush} backed in their last Presidential election against the <horror of horrors> dreaded "LEFTIST" candicate, Ollanta Humala.