Peru’s Congress voted Monday to impeach and oust President Martin Vizcarra over allegations that he took kickbacks from developers while serving as a regional governor in 2014.

Vizcarra said he would not challenge the decision in the courts and would step down as head of state.

The impeachment took the nation by surprise, as Vizcarra was expected to survive the vote.

Opposition lawmakers from nine parties in the unicameral congress banded together to impeach the 57-year-old. They cited accusations of corruption and his handling of the pandemic. In total 105 of Peru’s 130 lawmakers voted to remove him.

“The resolution declaring the vacancy of the presidency of the republic has been approved,” declared Congress leader Manuel Merino, who under the constitution will take over the presidential functions until the end of the current term in July 2021.

“Today I’m leaving the government palace. Today I’m going home,” Vizcarra said. He added: “History and the Peruvian people will judge the decisions that each one of us takes.”