Mon Jan 20 01:16:28 UTC 2025: ## Peruvian Congress Bans Miniskirts Amidst Prostitution Scandal and Mounting Criticism
LIMA, PERU – The Peruvian Congress has sparked outrage by banning female employees from wearing miniskirts, shorts, and jeans. The controversial decision, ostensibly aimed at curbing a suspected prostitution ring operating within the parliament, has been widely condemned as sexist and a distraction from deeper issues.
The ban follows the December murder of Andrea Vidal, a 28-year-old former advisor, who was allegedly involved in facilitating sexual encounters between high-ranking officials and women. Vidal’s death is believed to have occurred just as a major scandal was about to break. Suspicion centers on Jorge Luis Torres Saravia, the former head of the Legal and Constitutional Office, who denies involvement despite having been fired from his position alongside Vidal.
The scandal comes amid already rock-bottom public opinion. A recent Ipsos poll revealed that 82% of Peruvians disapprove of Congress, which has repeatedly rejected calls for early elections, currently scheduled for 2026. This disapproval is only surpassed by President Dina Boluarte’s 84% disapproval rating.
Adding to the turmoil, over half of Congress’s 130 members are under criminal investigation for various offenses, including bribery and domestic violence. Further allegations of sexual exploitation persist, with one recent case involving a 31-year-old woman who claimed to have been raped by Congressman Jose Jeri. Instead of addressing the accusations directly, Congressman Edwin Martinez blamed the victim for her alleged intoxication.
Civil society groups decry the miniskirt ban as a cynical attempt to deflect attention from the pervasive corruption and misogyny within the Peruvian Congress, calling it a “new low” for the institution. The ban, they argue, fails to address the underlying problems and further marginalizes women.
First Piper 