Opening an investigation into “rebellion” against the ousted president

Impeachment and arrest of Peruvian President Pedro Castillo and installation of his vice president

  • The police take the president to a detention centre.

    Reuters

  • Clashes between protesters against the president's impeachment and policemen.

    Reuters

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Peruvian President Pedro Castillo was placed under arrest at a police station in Lima yesterday, the day after his dismissal and arrest during a day full of transformations that witnessed the inauguration of his deputy, Dina Boloart, as president of the Latin American country, which is accustomed to political crises.

The third impeachment of the leftist president in 18 years came after he had announced in a televised speech that he had dissolved the parliament he was seeking to overthrow, in a maneuver that was considered tantamount to a "coup".

And the Attorney General, Marita Barreto, announced that Pedro Castillo, 53, who came to power in July 2021, was "placed under arrest."

Pictures showed the ousted president sitting on a chair surrounded by prosecutors and police officers.

Peruvian media reported that Castillo was later transferred by helicopter to a police special forces base in Lima, where he is expected to be held for a maximum of 15 days.

This came as the Public Prosecution office searched the presidential palace on Wednesday evening.

A judicial source told AFP that an investigation had been opened regarding a "rebellion" against Castillo, who ruled the country for only 17 months.

This investigation is in addition to six other investigations targeting him in cases of corruption or abuse of influence, in which members of his family and his political entourage have been accused.

And approved his dismissal due to "moral inability", in a session whose facts were broadcast live on television, 101 out of 130 parliamentarians, including 80 in the opposition.

In a final attempt to cling to his position, the president announced the dissolution of parliament several hours before the latter's meeting to decide its fate.

Likewise, he announced the formation of an “extraordinary emergency government” and wanted to “call (for the formation of) a new Congress that would have constituent powers as soon as possible,” in a maneuver that was ignored by Parliament, and widely condemned by the political class.

According to the police, Castillo, after his failed attempt to dissolve Parliament, intended to go to the Mexican embassy and ask for asylum, but was arrested before that.

"Today, there was a political coup in the pure style of the twentieth century," said the President of the Constitutional Court, Francisco Morales, commenting, "No one owes obedience to a usurping government."

Independent political analyst Augusto Alvarez told AFP that Castillo “violated Article 117 of the Peruvian constitution and (was) illegal.

This is a self-coup.”

In turn, Dina Bolwart, during her inauguration ceremony in front of the representatives of Parliament, where she was putting on the presidential sash to become the first woman to assume the presidency of Peru, reiterated that there was "an attempted coup promoted by Pedro Castillo, and it did not find any echo in democratic institutions or in the street."

"I take (power) according to the Peruvian constitution from this moment until July 2026," said the 60-year-old lawyer, who belongs to Castillo's own party (Free Peru).

The return of democratic life

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered peacefully in front of Parliament.

"We are tired of this corrupt government, of this government that robs us from day one," said Johanna Salazar, 51, a worker.

On the other hand, others came to defend Castillo and call for “respecting the vote of the people,” such as Sissy, a 50-year-old municipal employee, who said that “since the arrival of the president, they humiliated him. They did not accept a president coming from the provinces,” referring to the former teacher in Rural areas for 24 years, novice in politics.

Subsequently, the United States announced that it no longer considered Pedro Castillo as President of Peru.

"We categorically reject any action that violates any constitution or any action that undermines democracy," State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters.

For his part, Brazilian President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said, "It is always unfortunate that a democratically elected president faces such a fate."

The Spanish government and the Secretary-General of the Organization of American States, Luis Almagro, denounced a "breach of the constitutional order" in Castillo's attempts, while Madrid welcomed "the return of democratic life to normal."

Pedro Castillo escaped two impeachment attempts due to "moral inability", the last of which was in March 2022. He had previously ousted two presidents, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski (right) in 2018, and Martin Vizcarra (center) in 2020.

Six investigations targeting the ousted president in cases of corruption or abuse of influence, in which members of his family and his political entourage have been accused.

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