President Alberto Fujimori, reelected less than four months ago in an election marred by fraud, announced Sept. 16 that he would schedule new elections within six months and would not run, essentially resigning from office. The announcement shocked the nation and was prompted by the release of a video showing the head of Peru’s intelligence agency, a close Fujimori ally, bribing an opposition congressman to support the president in the election. The coming months will be a political scramble as the country comes to grips with Fujimori’s decision and a fresh campaign for the presidency. All access roads and the single railway line to Machu Picchu were blocked Sept. 13 by demonstrators protesting government neglect in the region. The protests, which paralyzed the area for several days, started a few days after a historic Inca sundial was damaged in a shoot for a beer commercial.
