Pedro Castillo wanted to dissolve parliament and establish an emergency government. The president of Peru said this in a speech on Wednesday. He also announced a new election to Congress. The parliamentarians must then draw up a new constitution within nine months.
But Congress wouldn’t allow it. The parliamentarians in turn voted to impeach the head of state. 101 members of Congress voted in favor of the motion of no confidence, 6 against and 10 abstained. In this case, the constitution provides for Vice President Dina Boluarte to take over the duties. Since taking office a year and a half ago, Castillo has survived two impeachment proceedings. He is under various investigations, including for influencing promotions in the military and police and for obstructing the judiciary.
Vice speaks of “coup”
Shortly before the vote, Castillo had imposed a curfew and said he would temporarily rule by decree. “Congress has destroyed the rule of law, democracy and the balance of state powers,” Castillo said. Deputy Minister Boluarte, numerous ministers and the opposition condemned the dissolution of the Congress as a coup d’état.
“I oppose Pedro Castillo’s decision to dissolve the Congress to bring about the collapse of the constitutional order. This is a coup that exacerbates the political and institutional crisis that Peruvian society must overcome in strict compliance with the law,” wrote Boluarte on Twitter.
The opposition also spoke of a coup. “He can’t do what he just did. That’s illegal,” said Martha Moyano, MP from the right-wing party Fuerza Popular on radio station RPP. Her party friend Héctor Ventura said: “Today, the armed forces must respect the democratic order.” MP and former Admiral José Cueto wrote on Twitter: “What Pedro Castillo has done is a coup. The armed forces will support the constitution and not the dictator.”
Ministers resign
Numerous ministers resigned after Castillo’s announcement. “Because the rule of law has been violated and in accordance with my democratic principles, I hereby tender my irrevocable resignation as Secretary of the Economy and Finance,” Treasury Secretary Kurt Burneo wrote on Twitter. Foreign Minister César Landa and Justice Minister Felix Chero also made their positions available. Attorney General Patricia Benavides said: “We strongly reject the violation of constitutional order.”
The government of the left-wing politician Castillo was in a permanent power struggle with parliament. Most recently, Congress denied the head of state permission to travel to the Pacific Alliance summit in Mexico and canceled the meeting. Two of Castillo’s predecessors had been removed from office in similar proceedings. (SDA)