Martín Vizcarra — Peruvian engineer and former president

Early career and rise

Vizcarra began his professional life in engineering and public works, later serving in regional government as the governor of Moquegua, one of Peru’s southern regions. He was appointed to a ministerial post in the national cabinet and then selected as running mate to Pedro Pablo Kuczynski. Upon winning the 2016 election, he served as vice president; see the vice‑presidential office for institutional context: Vice Presidency of Peru. When President Kuczynski resigned amid political turmoil, Vizcarra succeeded him as head of state.

Presidency (2018–2020)

Assuming the presidency in 2018 after the resignation of Pedro Pablo Kuczynski (Kuczynski), Vizcarra positioned himself publicly as an independent-minded leader focused on cleaning up corruption. He appointed a cabinet, continued some economic policies of his predecessor, and prioritized judicial and electoral reforms. His administration emphasized transparency and institutional change as central themes.

Constitutional crisis and removal

In September 2019 Vizcarra took the extraordinary step of dissolving the Peruvian Congress after prolonged conflict with legislators over anti‑corruption and reform initiatives. He called for new legislative elections, a move that provoked broad debate about constitutional powers and separation of branches. In November 2020, amid allegations and political maneuvering, Congress voted to remove Vizcarra from the presidency on grounds of "moral incapacity," a decision that generated domestic protests and international commentary.

Policies, controversies and impact

• Anti‑corruption: He campaigned on and promoted measures aimed at reducing corruption within politics and the judiciary.
• Institutional reform: His tenure attempted changes to the nomination and disciplinary systems of judges and prosecutors.
• Political conflict: The dissolution of Congress and subsequent removal highlighted tensions between Peru’s executive and legislative branches.

Notable contemporary figures during his administration included his fellow vice president Mercedes Aráoz: Mercedes Aráoz. For background on Vizcarra’s professional profile see general biographical resources: biography and career overview. His time in office is often discussed in studies of Latin American governance for its emphasis on anti‑corruption and the constitutional questions it raised.