Peru congress suspends lawmaker Kenji Fujimori over corruption allegations, lacks quorum for dismissal
Fujimori is accused of attempting to buy votes to keep disgraced former president Pedro Pablo Kuczynski from being impeached.
Published: 07th June 2018 11:13 AM | Last Updated: 07th June 2018 11:13 AM | A+A A-
Peru lawmaker Kenji Fujimori (File | AP)
LIMA: Peru's congress suspended lawmaker Kenji Fujimori late Wednesday over corruption allegations but lacked a quorum to dismiss him as part of a fight with his sister for control of their father's political dynasty.
After 11 hours of debate, 61 lawmakers voted to suspend the youngest son of former president Alberto Fujimori.
But the speaker of the chamber, Luis Galarreta, then suspended the session citing a lack of quorum -- 67 lawmakers -- before it could vote on a motion to dismiss Fujimori altogether as sought by the party of his sister and rival, Keiko Fujimori.
Kenji Fujimori, 38, is accused of attempting to buy votes to keep disgraced former president Pedro Pablo Kuczynski from being impeached. Kuczynski ended up resigning, in March.
With Fujimori now out of congress, the vote Wednesday night shapes up as a win, albeit a costly one, for his sister in their battle for control of their father Alberto's political legacy.
It could even mean the siblings will square off against each other in presidential voting in 2021.
