Peru's interior minister resigns after claims of violating COVID-19 rules

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

ANKARA (AA) - Peru's Interior Minister Luis Barranzuela Vitere resigned late Tuesday following reports that he violated coronavirus restrictions.

"I have made the democratic decision to irrevocably resign from the post of Minister of the Interior, rejecting the false accusations against my professional career and respecting the governability and trust of the President of the Republic," Barranzuela said on Twitter.

The reports claimed that the minister held a Halloween party, one of the gathering types prohibited by the government recently, at his home in the capital Lima on Sunday.

Announcing that the resignation of Barranzuela is accepted, President Pedro Castillo tweeted: "In the next few hours I will take the oath of office of whoever will succeed him."

Peru has reported more than 200,200 coronavirus-related deaths and over 2 million cases, according to the US-based Johns Hopkins University.

At least 34.6 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in the South American country, and 15.5 million people are fully vaccinated.