NAfter the Peruvian President Pedro Castillo, who was suspected of corruption, dissolved the congress shortly before a vote of no confidence against him, he was arrested by the police. Various Peruvian media report unanimously that he is being questioned by public prosecutors in the prefecture in Lima.
Earlier on Wednesday, the left-wing politician announced the formation of an “emergency government” in a speech to the nation. The largest Peruvian newspaper “El Comercio” immediately spoke of a “coup d’etat”. Castillo also ordered a nationwide curfew. He stated that the judicial system should be reorganized. His party kept their distance from Castillo.
“Congress has destroyed the rule of law, democracy and the balance between state powers,” said Castillo, who read from a paper during the speech and whose hands were noticeably shaking. With the emergency regime, he wants to restore the rule of law and democracy. He announced new elections and the prospect of drafting a new constitution. For the time being he will rule with decrees. Anyone possessing illegal weapons must hand them over to the police within 72 hours. Anyone who does not comply with this request must expect imprisonment.
According to information from judicial circles, an investigation was initiated against Castillo on charges of incitement. “He has been arrested,” said prosecutor Marita Barreto, who is responsible for investigating government corruption.
Memories of the 1990s come alive
Castillo, a former trade unionist and village school teacher, surprisingly entered the presidential runoff last year, defeating Keiko Fujimori, whose father, Alberto Fujimori, also dissolved Congress in 1992, which amounted to a coup d’etat.
The current development is reminiscent of that time. The President of Peru’s Constitutional Court, Francisco Morales, called President Castillo’s dissolution of Congress a “coup d’etat” and a violation of constitutional order. Castillo is “no longer President of Peru”. Against the odds, congressmen rallied and declared Castillo superseded. 101 voted for the dismissal, six against, ten abstained. In his short tenure, Castillo had survived two no-confidence votes.
The general secretary of Perú Libre, Castillo’s party, criticized the president after his announcement that he would dissolve the congress. “Perú Libre does not support a coup.” The Perú Libre party describes itself as Marxist-Leninist.
Later in the day, Congress elected Dina Boluarte as the new President. The 60-year-old politician belongs to the same party as Castillo. Boluarte is the first woman in Peru’s history to hold this office.
