Peru’s Foreign and Defense Ministers resigned on Wednesday in protest over the interim president’s decision to stall a $3.5 billion deal for the purchase of 24 US F-16 fighter jets.
The ministers said the deal had already been signed and that to cast doubt on it now jeopardized Peru’s reputation as a trading partner.
The confusion over the purchase and the abrupt resignations deepened instability gripping the South American country, after a recent election to choose the country’s ninth president in a decade descended into chaos. No candidate emerged with an outright majority, meaning a runoff election will be held June 7.
Interim president Jose Maria Balcazar said Tuesday he would leave it up to the victor to finalize the jets deal. (AFP)
