Events have developed dramatically during the past hours in Peru, after President Pedro Castillo tried to dissolve parliament to avoid a vote on his impeachment, to end up being impeached and detained by the police, while his deputy, Dina Polwarti, was sworn in as interim president.
Thus, Bolarte becomes the first woman to assume the presidency in that South American country, which is the second largest producer of copper in the world.
Polwarti pledged in her first statement to form an inclusive national government, and called for a political truce to overcome the crisis in the country.
Earlier Wednesday, the 53-year-old Castillo, who has been in power since July of last year, tried to overthrow the legislative authority, and addressed a letter to the nation announcing the dissolution of Parliament (which was preparing to hold a third session to vote on his impeachment), and that he would rule. Through presidential decrees, he will form an emergency government with the call for parliamentary elections to approve a new constitution.
But the Peruvian parliament, which is dominated by the right-wing opposition, announced its rejection of the decree of the leftist president, and in turn responded through a vote that resulted in the approval of 101 deputies to remove the president from office, during a session that was broadcast live, and witnessed 6 members objecting and 10 abstaining from voting.
Parliament said in a statement: "In defense of our democracy and our constitution, the plenary session of Parliament voted in favor of impeaching President Pedro Castillo," referring at the same time to the selection of Vice President Dina Polwarti to assume the presidency temporarily.
Castillo decided to dissolve parliament, and the latter dismissed him (Anatolia Agency)
Chief of the police
In turn, the Peruvian police announced the arrest of the ousted president, and the Associated Press reported that Castillo is currently in a police station, noting that his status is unclear.
Reuters said that the police in Peru published a photo on Twitter of Castillo sitting unrestrained in a police station after the vote to approve his removal, and the police said that they "interfered" to perform their duty, describing Castillo as "a former president."
It was not confirmed if he was detained.
And state television announced that Prime Minister Betsy Chavez announced her resignation, while supporters of the ousted president quickly demonstrated in front of Parliament after the vote to impeach him.
Parliament had summoned Castillo last week to respond to accusations of "moral failure" with regard to the ruling.
In October, the Public Prosecutor's Office filed a constitutional complaint against Castillo alleging his leadership of a "criminal organization" for profiting from state contracts and obstructing investigations.
Castillo described the allegations as a "slander" by groups seeking "to take advantage of them and take over the power people took from them in the elections".
Reuters indicates that the left-leaning president, who was teaching before assuming the presidency, had previously survived two attempts to remove him since he took office in July 2021.
But after announcing that he would dissolve parliament, the allies abandoned him and a number of government ministers resigned, while the US ambassador to Peru criticized Castillo's endeavor, saying that her country "totally rejects any unconstitutional action by President Castillo to prevent Parliament from carrying out its mandate."
Peru has suffered years of political turmoil and witnessed major confrontations between the president and parliament before.
President Martin Vizcarra dissolved Parliament and was later impeached in 2020, and 3 decades ago, former President Alberto Fujimori, who is currently imprisoned on charges of human rights violations and corruption, sought to dissolve Parliament.