PERU has been thrown into political turmoil following Tuesday’s resignation of Economy Minister Pedro Francke after a major cabinet reshuffle.

“I thank President Pedro Castillo for the opportunity he gave me to serve Peru … in the midst of a situation marked by the pandemic and the need to recover economic dynamics and employment,” Mr Francke said in a statement.

There was no immediate successor announced, although former finance ministry adviser and economist at the Peruvian Central Bank Oscar Graham was thought to be the frontrunner.

It’s Mr Castillo’s third overhaul in just six months in office, replacing half of his 18 cabinet members, including the prime minister and the minister of finance.

The self-described Marxist-Leninist said it was part of a “constant re-evaluation” of his ministerial team and comes amid a number of resignations which started last Friday when interior minister Avelino Guillen quit.

Mr Guillen claimed that Mr Castillo had not supported him in making changes to the national police force so it could fight crime and corruption more efficiently, one of the key pledges made by the president.

Prime Minister Mirtha Vasquez followed soon after, tendering her resignation on Monday also saying that Mr Castillo was not tackling corruption.

She insisted she “needed to take this drastic decision to repair this situation” in an interview shortly after her announcement.

Under the Peruvian political system, when a prime minister quits they must be replaced and a new cabinet appointed which must then be approved by Congress.

Mr Castillo is expected to announced his new ministerial team in the coming days.

“We will continue on the path of development for the good of the country,” he said.