Rumours as to a possible pardon for jailed ex-president Alberto Fujimori abound. Over the last few days, there was further questioning over the reshuffle of committee members entrusted with authorising presidential pardons. The man chosen to lead the committee not only had no legal training but turned out to be 92 years old. He has now withdrawn his name.

Orlando Franchini was appointed to head the committee on 6 October, apparently without much understanding of what his responsibilities were to be. His appointment met with considerable surprise and anger. It remains unclear quite why such an elderly man with no legal background but a life in the private sector had been appointed at such a sensitive moment as when Fujimori’s release seemed to be in the offing.

While Justice Minister Enrique Mendoza said that Franchini had accepted the invitation to head the committee, the latter appeared to have been somewhat bemused by his appointment. “I do not know why they nominated me” he is quoted as saying in El Comercio.