Peru's Congress Moves on Two Fronts October 1: Censure of Interior Minister Falls, Delegated-Powers Draft Approved
LIMA - Peru's Congress faced a pivotal day on October 1. The Chamber of Deputies voted on a censure motion against Interior Minister Cesar Astudillo filed by the Juntos por el Peru, Partido Civico Obras and Partido del Buen Gobierno caucuses, which accuse him of weak leadership on security; the motion did not pass. President Keiko Fujimori had publicly backed Astudillo ahead of the debate.
The same day, the Chamber's Constitution Commission approved a majority report granting the executive delegated legislative powers for 90 days, limited to two areas: citizen security and prevention and response for the El Nino phenomenon. The government had originally requested eight subject areas for up to 120 days. The narrowed security package covers the prison system, juvenile justice, telephony, migration and arms control, and crimes including kidnapping, cybercrime, contract killings, extortion and illegal mining.
Fuerza Popular filed a competing minority report that would restore much of the original request - up to 50 of 66 subjects, terms of up to 120 days, and measures letting the armed forces support police and giving the National Intelligence Directorate operational capacity. Which text prevails will shape how Peru authorises emergency security steps.
The powers fight is the first big test between the executive and legislature under the restored bicameral Congress, with the lower house dominated by the opposition. The full Chamber was scheduled to vote on October 6, a result that will show whether government and Congress can find working room after Fujimori's warning that her patience was being tested.
Sources: Compiled from Particle News reporting around October 1, 2026, on the censure motion and the Constitution Commission report, and Peruvian news roundups of October 1 recording the censure's failure.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 利马秘鲁国会大厦立面，Genu5960 摄，CC BY-SA 3.0（Wikimedia Commons）
