Peruvian prime minister resigns amid influence peddling claims

Peru's Prime Minister Alberto Otarola resigned on Tuesday amid allegations of influence-peddling to help a young woman he is said to have addressed lovingly in a recording released by news media.

He told media the recording was made in 2021when he was not a government official, and was manipulated and edited as part of a conspiracy by his political opponents. He had previously denied committing any crimes after the recording was made public.

Peruvian media published a recording over the weekend purporting to be of Otarola attempting to improperly influence government contracts in which he spoke to a woman who later went on to work in various government roles.