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Peru's Congress Votes to Shorten Fujimori's Presidency
Peru's congress Thursday passed a constitutional amendment to cut short Alberto Fujimori's presidency and the office terms of congressmen, paving the way for a new government after new elections in April.
The amendment was approved 109-2, with five abstentions Fujimori's and the 120 congressmen's office terms would end on July 28, 2001, four years ahead of schedule.
The Peruvian government held the eighth meeting with opposition and civic leaders, mediated by the Organization of American States, on October 25.
At the meeting, the three parties also reached a consensus on holding fresh elections in April 2001.
Peru was plunged into a political crisis in September when a video tape was released showing that Fujimori's close aide, spy master Vladimiro Montesinos, was apparently bribing a congressmen to support Fujimori in May elections.
Fujimori, who won the elections for a third term, later had to announce that new elections would be held and he himself would not run. He also pledged to step down in July 2001 to make way for the new president.
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