Peru's new PM wins confidence vote

Peruvian Prime Minister Pedro Pablo Kuczynsky won a confidence vote in parliament on Friday after he promised to fight poverty and improve security in the Latin American country.

The vote was passed by 60 votes for and 6 against with 29 abstentions after a 7-hour debate.

Kuczynsky, a former investment banker, was named prime minister earlier this month during a sweeping cabinet reshuffle, which ended the worst political crisis facing President Alejandro Toledo.

During the debate, Kuczynsky emphasized strong economic growth in the past four years when he was economy and fiance minister.

The percentage of the poor among the total population dropped to 51.6 percent in 2004 from 54 percent in 2001, he said, adding the government's aim was to slash the number of the poor to 20 percent in 10 years.

To boost security, Kuczynsky said that the government would consider tougher penalties and enhance the capability of police in fighting crime.

Source: Xinhua