Peruvian political party Juntos por el Perú has backed down over the appointment of deputy César Tito Rojas to the Ethics Commission of the Chamber of Deputies, withdrawing his nomination following criticism from government bloc lawmakers regarding his alleged ties to Movadef.
Deputy Jessica Pérez has been designated as the new representative for Juntos por el Perú on the oversight body, replacing Tito Rojas after he was initially proposed as the opposition coalition's primary candidate.
The decision to remove Tito Rojas followed pushback from ruling party legislators who questioned his inclusion on the internal ethics group. Before selecting Pérez, the parliamentary group had also considered deputy Azucena Isla Rojas as a potential replacement for the seat.
Allegations and past terrorism investigation
Objections to Tito Rojas stemmed from media reports claiming he signed registration forms in 2011 to help Movadef register as an official political party. Movadef, the Movement for Amnesty and Fundamental Rights, is an inactive organization considered the political wing of the Shining Path terrorist group.
Tito Rojas rejected any connection to Movadef, stating that he had nothing to do with the group. Addressing past legal scrutiny, he stated that authorities investigated him in 2012 for the crime of apology for terrorism while he was leading protest demonstrations in the southern region of Puno, but noted that judicial authorities archived the case in 2017 after finding no evidence against him.
Composition of the Ethics Commission
With Pérez stepping into the role, the Ethics Commission will also include deputies Mery Infantes of Fuerza Popular, Edwin Espinoza of Partido del Buen Gobierno, Javier Cipriani of Renovación Popular, Heber López of Partido Cívico Obras, and Harvey Colchado of Ahora Nación.
The Ethics Commission acts as the internal disciplinary body of Peru's Chamber of Deputies, reviewing ethical complaints and assessing potential misconduct by sitting lawmakers.
Juntos por el Perú, a left-wing political coalition in Peru's parliament, is currently seeking to expand its committee presence further. As legislative assignments are finalized, the bench is aiming to secure the chairmanships of both the Justice Commission and the Education Commission in the Chamber of Deputies.
