In a spectacular turn of events in Peru, Pedro Castillo, who was president less than twenty-four hours ago, is currently in police arrest and is likely to be charged with insurrection.
His slide from power occurred quickly.
Facing an impeachment vote by a Congress controlled by the opposition, he declared the dissolution of the legislature.
Congress disobeyed him, voted decisively to remove him from power, and his bodyguards prevented him from seeking asylum in an embassy.
Within hours of Mr. Castillo’s impeachment, Congress swore in his vice president, Dina Boluarte, as the new president.
Ms. Boluarte is the first female president of Peru. She stated that she would rule until July 2026, when Mr. Castillo’s term would have expired.
While Ms. Boluarte was Mr. Castillo’s running mate in the 2021 election that brought them to power, she rapidly distanced herself from him on Wednesday when he threatened to dissolve Congress, a move she described as a “coup attempt.”
After being sworn in, she urged Peruvians to unite for “national unity” and requested a “ceasefire” so she could battle corruption.
During the time she was taking the oath of office, her predecessor was already in police custody.
After his broadcast statement, which he had given nervously with his script visibly trembling in his hands, many of his allies swiftly abandoned him.
The chief justice of the constitutional court stated that Mr. Castillo’s dissolution of Congress was unconstitutional.
Several ministers, including the minister of defense, resigned within minutes. The police and the military issued a united statement pledging to uphold the constitution.
Mr. Castillo and his family departed from the presidential mansion and into an SUV. According to the police report, he was en route to the Mexican embassy in Lima, apparently to request political asylum.
According to a report in the Peruvian newspaper El Comercio, however, senior police officials instructed the security officer driving the truck to halt.
Mr. Castillo was then transported to police headquarters, where he was held on suspicion of insurrection by Peru’s attorney general.
According to media sources, Mr. Castillo has now been transferred to the headquarters of the police department’s special operations division.
In response to a question about whether Mexico had received an asylum request from Mr. Castillo, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard declined to comment but noted that his nation has a history of offering shelter to persons facing “political persecution.”
In 2019, Evo Morales, the former president of Bolivia, sought shelter there immediately after resigning from office.
As Mr. Castillo is already under investigation for alleged insurrection by the attorney general’s office, it seems unlikely that he will be permitted to depart Peru.
The attorney general’s office stated that it was collecting evidence, and investigators were spotted overnight removing boxes from the presidential palace and several ministries.
A dramatic conclusion to a wobbly presidency
Even by Peru’s standards, Mr. Castillo’s presidency has been turbulent. In 2020, Peru had three presidents within five days.
In June 2021, the left-leaning former schoolteacher narrowly defeated his right-leaning opponent Keiko Fujimori to gain the presidency.
With no political experience and a hostile Congress, the 53-year-old who frequently wore a wide-brimmed hat to public occasions appeared rapidly out of his depth.
During his 18 months in office, his cabinet experienced frequent upheaval, and he had five prime ministers.
His time in office was also marred by corruption allegations, which Mr. Castillo described as “political persecution.”
“Moral deficiency”
As he and members of his family were investigated for alleged fraud and influence peddling, the pressure on him increased.
On Wednesday, he faced a new impeachment effort for “moral incapacity.”
Mr. Castillo may have feared that this third motion could depose him, as two earlier attempts had failed to garner enough votes.
In his broadcast statement, he stated, “In response to citizens’ requests across the country, we have chosen to form a special administration with the goal of re-establishing the rule of law and democracy.”
However, public opinion polls indicated that many Peruvians disapproved of his management of the country. In April, 76% of respondents to Ipsos polls said they had a poor image of Mr. Castillo.
On Wednesday, a small group of his fans took to the streets, with one holding a sign that read “Pedro, we are with you.”
Nonetheless, many had gathered earlier to protest what they termed his “attempted coup.”
Impending difficulties
Now, all eyes are on the incoming president, Dina Boluarte, to see whom she selects for her cabinet.
The 60-year-old, a former attorney and political unknown before being chosen as Mr. Castillo’s running mate, has requested “space” and “time” to save the country.
She has gotten support from the United States, which stated it would “support Peru under the unity administration President Boluarte vowed to build,” and Brazil, whose president-elect wished her well in “mending her divided nation and guiding it down the route to growth and social peace.”
But gaining the trust of Peruvians, many of whom are distrustful of politicians in general and tired of the infighting within Congress that has led to the downfall of so many of her predecessors, will be difficult.
