Fujimori's power tenuous as Peruvian Congress prepares vote

Hundreds of laborers from the left led a protest against President Alberto Fujimori

LIMA, Peru (AP) -- Two days after ousting a loyalist of Alberto Fujimori as head of Congress, opposition lawmakers named their candidate to lead the legislature Wednesday, threatening to further undermine the president's hold on power.

Also Wednesday, riot police used tear gas to disperse hundreds of leftist-led construction workers demonstrating outside the Government Palace.

The protesters carried an effigy with two heads -- Fujimori's and former spy chief Vladimiro Montesinos' -- inside a cage. Tear gas canisters flew after some protesters -- armed with wooden poles and shouting "There is no president!" -- charged at police.

The demonstration came after opposition parties agreed to put forward Congressman Valentin Paniagua to replace Martha Hildebrandt , who was removed as Congress president Monday in a 64-51 vote.

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Paniagua will face Congressman Ricardo Marcenaro, the candidate for Fujimori's Peru 2000 party, in a vote scheduled for Thursday.

If the opposition gains control of Congress, it will be the first time since 1992 that Fujimori does not dominate the body.

Fujimori agreed in September to step down next July following new elections after a corruption scandal erupted around Montesinos.

But pressure is building for Fujimori to step aside sooner as apparent evidence of Montesinos' misdeeds mount.

The scandal surrounding Montesinos, who remains a fugitive, began with a leaked video in September showing him apparently bribing an opposition congressman.

Montesinos is now under investigation for laundering at least $58 million in foreign bank accounts. He faces criminal complaints in Peru ranging from directing state-sponsored death squads to skimming profits from narcotics trades during his 10 years as Fujimori's top aide.

Peruvian workers demonstrating against President Alberto Fujimori clash with police on Wednesday outside of government palace in Lima, Peru

Paniagua, a political moderate, said Wednesday that if he takes over leadership of the 120-seat legislature, there would be no rush to force Fujimori from office on grounds of "moral incapacity" -- as permitted by the constitution.

"That is a theme that must be played out with the utmost caution, taking into account the grave repercussions that this can lead to in the political stability of any country," he said.

But two of Fujimori's top ministers said he might not remain in the presidency until July, as he planned.

Finance Minister Carlos Bolona was widely quoted in newspapers Wednesday as saying that Peru's political crisis would make it difficult for Fujimori to last until July.

Prime Minister Federico Salas agreed, saying in a radio interview: "The political scene is so unstable in Peru that I would not rule out anything at this moment."

Fujimori's election to a third five-year term this summer was marred by irregularities and fraud allegations.

He left Peru this week to take part in a trade summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in Brunei Wednesday and Thursday. From there, he was scheduled to travel to Panama on Friday to participate in a two-day annual meeting of Spanish-speaking and Portuguese-speaking leaders.

Copyright 2000 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Bienvenidos al Ministerio de la Presidencia (Spanish)
Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores del Peru (Spanish/English)
Congreso de la Republica del Peru (Spanish/English)
Peru Posible

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