LIMA, July 19 (Xinhua) -- Peru named Francisco Tavara as interim president of Peruvian Judiciary (PJ) on Thursday after the former judicial chief Duberli Rodriguez resigned on the same day amid a corruption scandal.
At PJ headquarters in Lima, Tavara called for an election on July 25 to find a successor to see out the remainder of Rodriguez's term, which lasts until this year-end.
The ongoing judicial scandal began on July 7 after a local news website published audio recordings of telephone conversations in which judges seemed to discuss corrupt and illicit actions they partook in.
Rodriguez was not found guilty but he said in a letter to a senior judge that "given the institutional crisis that the Supreme Court is experiencing, I present my irrevocable resignation."
Last week, Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra stated his "firm and categorical" commitment to combat all acts of corruption that the country faces. He also assured the country that a reform of the justice system is under way.
