Peru President to Ask Congress to Declare Emergency in Corruption Probe

Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra said he would ask Congress to declare the public prosecutor’s office in a state of emergency after the agency’s top official removed two investigators at the heart of the probe into a massive graft scandal triggered by Brazilian builder Odebrecht.

Peru's President Martin Vizcarra speaks to media at the government palace in Lima, Peru, on Oct. 29, 2018. Reuters/Mariana Bazo

LIMA—Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra said he would ask Congress to declare the public prosecutor’s office in a state of emergency after the agency’s top official removed two investigators at the heart of the probe into a massive graft scandal triggered by Brazilian builder Odebrecht.

Vizcarra, who had been attending the inauguration of President Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil, cut short his trip to deal with the surprise twist in the Odebrecht case, saying he would return home to fight against “corruption and impunity.”