President: Peru’s VP Chehade has ‘stepped aside’ amid corruption allegation

Peru’s Vice President Omar Chehade “stepped aside” over corruption charges, the BBC reported.

Chehade was charged with have abused his office when he allegedly used his position of power to help his brother evict workers from a plantation co-op so an agricultural company interested in controlling the property could take over, Reuters reported. 

Peruvian President Ollanta Humala made the announcement of Chehade’s departure on Sunday but did not clarify if he had resigned or is taking a temporary leave of absence. The president urged Chehade to resign last week over the allegations so he can defend himself better.

“We’re not going to protect or support” Chehade, President Humala said on state-run TV Peru Nov. 6. “We support the truth.”

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The country’s attorney general office and Congress are separately investigating the allegation, which Chehade denies.

Humala’s campaign to combat corruption when he took office in July could be undermined. “A corruption scandal at such a high level attacks Humala’s popularity and undermines his legitimacy to mediate and prevent these social conflicts from escalating,” Political-risk analyst Moya-Ocampos told Bloomberg.

When asked if Chehade submitted his resignation, Humala said "This case is closed. He was asked to step aside and he did, and today he isn't part of the executive branch." Peru’s Constitution states only Congress has the authority to impeach a vice president from office.

Chehade’s departure may do little, however, as Reuters reported:

“Critics said Chehade's gesture was meaningless because Peru's other vice president, Marisol Espinoza, is more senior and is always sworn in when Humala travels.”