Peruvian lawmakers rejected ousting President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski in a vote late on Thursday, following more than 10 hours of debate.

Kuczynski made a forceful defense before the Peru's congress, ahead of the vote, urging lawmakers to defend the country's democracy from what he dubbed a hastily attempted "coup" staged by the right-wing opposition Popular Force party.

"The demand for vacancy on grounds of permanent moral incapacity has not been approved," said the speaker of the opposition-dominated chamber, Luis Galarreta. The motion received 79 of the required 87 votes that would have approved impeachment, while 19 lawmakers voted against and 21 abstained.

Following the vote, a triumphant Kuczynski took to Twitter, proclaiming, "Peruvians. Tomorrow begins a new chapter in our history: reconciliation and reconstruction of our country. One single force, one single Peru."

The result came as a surprise to many observers, given that last week 93 lawmakers voted that the impeachment motion to be put to Congress.

Courtesy:DW