Peru's President Martin Vizcarra greets reporters after addressing Congress in Lima, Peru, Friday, Sept. 18, 2020.
The decision came after long hours of debate in which legislators blasted Vizcarra but also questioned whether a rushed impeachment process would only create more turmoil in the middle of a health and economic crisis.
In the end, only 32 lawmakers voted to remove the president, while 78 voted against and 15 abstained.
He called for a proper investigation and urged lawmakers not to aggravate Peru's already precarious situation by rushing through an impeachment proceeding.
The president has no majority in Congress, a pandemic still to deal with and an economic contraction that has thrown millions into poverty.