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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, June 30, 2003

Peru's President Picks Woman Prime Minister

Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo, plagued by a popularity rating of 11 percent, named a new cabinet on Saturday and placed a woman at the helm for the first time in the Andean country's history.


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Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo, plagued by a popularity rating of 11 percent, named a new cabinet on Saturday and placed a woman at the helm for the first time in the Andean country's history.

Beatriz Merino, the 54-year-old head of the tax agency, was sworn in as prime minister, six days after Premier Luis Solari and the cabinet resigned to allow Toledo to refresh his government's image.

Merino is a former congresswoman, associated with conservative parties and an associate of one-time presidential candidate and author Mario Vargas Llosa. She is respected for raising tax revenue in Peru, a nation of 27 million where 54 percent live in poverty.

"In a difficult moment for the country, we will all have to work together and I want this Cabinet to build a democracy based on consensus, on harmony," said Merino, wearing the traditional red and white belt of ministers.

Toledo retained Javier Silva Ruete as economy minister.

In the first four months of 2003, Peru's economy grew 4.4 percent with a strong boost from fishing and mining.

Toledo also kept Allan Wagner as foreign affairs minister and Aurelio Loret de Mola in the defense portfolio, while replacing six other ministers.

Source: Agencies


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