Peruvian lawmakers on Monday elected a retired military officer and member of an opposition party as head of Congress, amid growing friction with the government of President Pedro Castillo, who faces investigations for alleged corruption.
José Daniel Williams Zapata, who was head of the Joint Command of the Armed Forces in 2006, won the presidency of the Legislative Assembly by a large majority, a week after the previous head of parliament was dismissed after pressure from the Government after the leak of audios which showed her discussing how to benefit her own party.
Zapata belongs to the Avanza País party and his election had the support of right-wing groups, which have tried twice without success to remove Castillo, who took office in July of last year, in a political trial.
In recent weeks, Castillo has sought the support of social organizations, unions, and regional authorities to face the tax investigations that have involved his own family, which he says are the product of a conspiracy by his opponents and powerful groups.
Four former presidents are in jail, under house arrest or facing trial with a possible prison sentence.
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