The opposition-dominated Peruvian Congress on Wednesday refused to hold a confidence vote in Prime Minister Anibal Torres, who had challenged the legislative body to do such as part of rising tensions between state powers in the Andean nation.
If Congress had issued a vote of no confidence in Torres, the president's entire Cabinet would have had to resign. It would have also allowed the government to call a second vote, which if rejected would allow the executive to shut down Congress and call for fresh legislative elections.
In an official letter sent to Torres, the president of Congress, Jose Williams Zapata, said Torres' request "could not be tended to in the terms set forth."
