The politician agreed to step down after night of unrest in which two young protesters were killed and half his Cabinet resigned. Congress scheduled an emergency session for Sunday afternoon to select a new president. "I think this is the most serious democratic and human rights crisis we have seen since Fujimori,” said analyst Alonso Gurmendi Dunkelberg, referring to the turbulent rule of strongman Alberto Fujimori from 1990 to 2000. Mr. Merino, previously head of Congress, stepped in as interim president, but his six-day rule was marred by constant protests. The little-known politician and rice farmer promised to keep in place a scheduled vote for a new president in April.

Source: The Hindu November 15, 2020 23:03 UTC