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Why was Peru President Pedro Castillo impeached? | Explainer News


former president of peru Pedro Castillo was arrested after he was removed from office by Congress in an impeachment trial.

Leftist leader Castillo announced on Wednesday that he would dissolve Congress, introduce a curfew and use emergency powers to call new elections.

The move was condemned by the constitutional court as a “coup” and lawmakers soon regrouped and voted overwhelmingly in favor of Castillo’s removal.

The former president was later arrested and charged with “sedition” and “conspiracy” to violate the constitutional order.

Hours after the impeachment, Vice President Dina Boluarte was sworn in new president of peru.

Let’s take a closer look at how dramatic events unfolded in Peru and what could happen next.

Why was Castillo impeached?

Castillo announced plans to “temporarily” dissolve the legislature and rule by decree to “re-establish democracy and the rule of law” in Peru.

The move was widely condemned as a “coup” plot. Several government ministers resigned in protest and Congress quickly held an impeachment trial, overwhelmingly voting to remove Castillo by 101 votes out of 130.

“We condemn the violation of the constitutional order,” federal prosecutors said in a statement.

“Peru’s political constitution respects the separation of powers and affirms that Peru is a democratic and sovereign Republic… No body can place itself above the Constitution and must abide by its duties. constitutional duty.”

This is the third time Castillo has faced an impeachment effort since he took office in July 2021.

Latest The legal battle begins in October when the prosecutor’s office filed a constitutional complaint alleging that Castillo was leading a “criminal organization” that benefited from state contracts and obstructed investigations.

Peru’s Congress issued a summons to Castillo last week over corruption allegations he has denied, accusing his opponents of trying to “blow up democracy and disregard people’s right to choose.” our people”.

Why is Castillo at odds with Congress?

The government of Castillo, a former rural school teacher, has suffered from political unrest for months. He and his family members are facing six corruption investigations. He has denied any wrongdoing.

Castillo has previously survived two impeachments, the first coming last December. At the time, a relatively small group of opposition lawmakers cited an investigation by prosecutors into illegal funding of the ruling party. To remove the president requires two-thirds of the 130 lawmakers to vote in favor. Only 46 votes in favor.

Congress tried to impeach Castillo again in March for “permanent moral incapacity,” a term incorporated into Peru’s constitutional law that experts say lacks an objective definition and has been used by Congress more than half a dozen times since 2017 to try to remove the president. The attempt failed, this time with only 55 votes in favor.

In October, five of Castillo’s allies were detained on corruption charges. In August, he sister-in-law, Yenifer Paredes, was detained for 30 months before trial. Prosecutors allege that Paredes was involved in a scheme to transfer contracts to allies of the president back home. She has not been charged.

In November, Castillo accepted the resignation of when it was prime minister and powerful ally, Anibal Torres, marked the departure of the fourth prime minister of Castillo’s tenure.

Torres challenged Congress to hold a vote of confidence and resigned after the legislature refused to do so.

Castillo ran on a left-wing platform that promised a fairer economic system, but he mostly ran as a moderate.

In November, thousands of protesters took to the streets of the Peruvian capital to call for Castillo’s resignation.

Castillo has previously said he was the victim of a campaign to remove him from power.

A man sets off fireworks as people raise the Peruvian flag, after Congress approved the removal of President Pedro Castillo, in Lima, Peru, December 7, 2022. REUTERS/Liz Tasa.
A man sets off fireworks as people raise the Peruvian flag, after Congress approved the removal of President Pedro Castillo, in Lima, Peru, December 7, 2022 [Liz Tasa/Reuters]

Why was Castillo arrested?

Following the impeachment vote, Castillo was arrested while going to the Mexican embassy to seek asylum, according to a police report published in the local press.

Videos circulating on social media show police stopping his car to arrest him.

The Department of Public Affairs said on Wednesday that Castillo was arrested on charges of “sedition” and “conspiracy” to violate the constitutional order.

Castillo was transferred to a police facility east of Lima, where former President Alberto Fujimori, convicted of corruption, who was removed from office by Congress in 2000, is serving his sentence.

Hundreds of people protested after the impeachment, some supporting the former president, while others celebrated the removal.

Supporters of former President Pedro Castillo confront riot police surrounding the police station where Castillo was previously, in Lima, Peru, Wednesday, December 7, 2022. The Peruvian Congress dismissed Castillo from his position. On Wednesday, voting to elect a vice president to replace him, Castillo immediately ordered the dissolution of the legislature before a scheduled vote to oust him.  (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
Supporters of former President Pedro Castillo confront riot police surrounding the police station where Castillo was previously, in Lima, Peru, Wednesday, December 7, 2022 [Martin Mejia/AP Photo]

Who is the new president?

Following the impeachment, Boluarte, 60, was sworn in as the new president. She is a trained lawyer and the first female president of Peru.

“I demand a political truce to form a government of national unity,” she said in her first speech as Peru’s sixth president in just five years.

“I ask for time, precious time to rescue the country from corruption and mistakes,” she said, adding that the new cabinet would include all political parties.

Boluarte criticized Castillo’s act of dissolving Congress as a “coup plot”.

She has distanced herself from Castillo in recent weeks and resigned from her role as cabinet minister.

Analyst Andres Calderon says Boluarte has proven herself to be a “go-within” person, noting how quickly she distanced herself from the socialist party’s polarizing Marxist founder. Vladimir Cerron.

Former Vice President Dina Boluarte receives a presidential sash as she is sworn in as the new president at the National Assembly in Lima, Peru, Wednesday, December 7, 2022. The Peruvian Congress voted to remove President Pedro from office. Castillo stepped down from office Wednesday and replaced him with vice president, shortly after Castillo attempted to dissolve the legislature ahead of a scheduled vote to remove him.  On the left is Speaker of Congress Jose Williams and on the right is Jose Cevasco.  (AP photo/Guadalupe Pardo)
Former Vice President Dina Boluarte receives a presidential sash as she is sworn in as the new president at the National Assembly in Lima, Peru, December 7, 2022 [Guadalupe Pardo/AP Photo]

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