LIMA ¨C Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra challenged the opposition-run Congress on Saturday to call a referendum on judicial and political reforms aimed at uprooting systemic corruption in one of Latin America¡¯s most promising economies.

Vizcarra called for a popular vote not just to fast-track judicial reforms, but also to gauge support for a ban on private financing of political campaigns, an end to the re-election of lawmakers and the creation of a second chamber in Congress.

The proposal is Vizcarra¡¯s latest attempt to distance himself from a political class widely seen as corrupt, following the resignation of the former president in March and a cronyism scandal that has roiled the justice system in recent weeks.

¡°My government is making a decided bet on strengthening the state as a whole in order to defeat the criminal and corrupt mafias that feed off our country,¡± Vizcarra said before Congress in his first Independence Day speech since taking office four months ago.

¡°We need the input of all citizens. That¡¯s why we¡¯re convinced that a referendum is healthy for our democracy.¡±

It was unclear if Congress would give the green light needed for the referendum to be called. Without backing from lawmakers, Vizcarra would have to collect hundreds of thousands of voters¡¯ signatures.

The head of the opposition party, Keiko Fujimori, the daughter of former authoritarian leader Alberto Fujimori, called for reflection. ¡°Let¡¯s remember that only in democracy and with respect for institutionality can we institute true change,¡± Fujimori said on Facebook.

Vizcarra did not propose a date for the referendum. But Peruvians will go to polls later in October to select mayors, governors and other local officials in regional elections.

A former vice president and governor of a small mining region, Vizcarra vowed to fight corruption ¡°at any cost¡± when he took office to replace Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, who resigned the presidency to avoid impeachment on graft and vote-buying allegations he denied.

Since then, a second crisis has gripped the nation of 32 million people as local media have published a stream of phone conversations that appear to show judges trading favors with businessmen, lawmakers and the country¡¯s new attorney general.

Thousands of Peruvians have taken to the streets in recent weeks to protest systemic graft, with many calling for fresh elections. A majority of Peruvians now disapprove of Congress, the government, the judiciary and prosecutors, according to a recent Ipsos poll.

¡°This crisis has reached a breaking point,¡± Vizcarra said. ¡°That¡¯s why, as president of the republic, I¡¯ve decided, with the support of the citizenry, to lead a change long sought by honest Peruvians.¡±