How Peru’s Caretaker-President Turned Into a Star
In scandal-torn Latin America, Martin Vizcarra’s surprising success suggests that obscurity is the new charisma.
A taste of victory.
Photographer: Cris Bouroncle/AFP/Getty Images
Peruvians have never been easy on their leaders. For the land that elected Alberto Fujimori and then watched him dismantle democracy, assail human rights and flee the country before returning in irons, maybe that’s for the best.
So when a low-profile vice president (Peru’s government has two) who doubled as ambassador to Canada was thrust into the top job in March, following President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski’s resignation via the sprawling Odebrecht graft scandal, Peruvians weren’t holding their breath. If political grandees like former presidents Ollanta Humala, Alejandro Toledo and Alan Garcia had fallen into disrepute or prison, what to expect from Martin Vizcarra, a caretaker with just two years to prove himself?