The extremes of Peruvian politics had harsh reactions against Cardinal Pedro Barreto’s announcement that President Pedro Castillo is preparing “a radical change of course” in his government and will have “a new (ministerial) cabinet and a premier who does not depend on the party Peru Libre or the environment of President Castillo”.
The one who had the most exalted responses was the secretary general of Peru Libre, Vladimir Cerrón. He even wondered if there is an “ecclesiastical coup” and stated on his social networks that “if the priest has not found out, the interference of the clergy is totally unacceptable.”
Cerrón assured, ironically and as if he had the upper hand, that “the only change of course that Castillo can make is to the left.” And he said: “If the president is thinking of a new cabinet without the knowledge of the Council of Ministers, his caucus and his party, only in complicity with the Church, he would be in a great political mistake.”
YOU CAN SEE: They dictate restrictive appearance measure against Vladimir Cerrón
He added, true to his style: “The Barreto cabinet would only guarantee the subordinate coexistence of the people with their exploiters.”
For Cerrón, without taking into account that the meeting with Cardinal Barreto was requested by the president himself, through Congressman Bermejo, as revealed by the priest, he assured that the clergy “is in favor of the conspiracy against the president.”
In his style. Cerrón directed his comments against the Church. Photo: diffusion
This last statement was answered by Cardinal Barreto in a Panamericana program.
“Dr. Cerrón is a good professional, but he is not doing an objective reading. Let us remember that there was a population that did not agree with one (Castillo) or with another (Keiko). Castillo was presented by Peru Libre, but the country is much more. I respect his opinion, but Peru needs to get out of the instability that affects the poorest, we have to fight against entrenched corruption in the Government and throughout the political process”.
YOU CAN SEE: The curious gesture of Cerrón with a leader who was distracted during his speech against the media
But also from the conservative sector they attacked Barreto and his announcement. It mattered little that Pope Francis himself called for peaceful solutions to the crisis and that the Archbishop of Huancayo warned that “this is the last and only chance that the democratic system can be saved.”
Fujimorista César Combina commented: “You don’t dialogue with criminals, and you, Mr. Barreto, know who the Free Peru are, or were you not Bishop of Huancayo? You are already an accomplice.” Former congresswoman Lourdes Alcorta stated that “the priest Barreto is the worst intermediary.” The ex-premier Luis Solari put his own: “Cardinal Barreto cannot be a spokesman for the Government.” Like them, other opposition politicians accused Barreto of wanting to save Castillo and doubted that an announcement of change would come true.
For the good common
Yesterday, the Archbishop of Lima, Carlos Castillo, called in his Good Friday homily for peace, without corruption and unity for the common good. He said that the injustice that still dominates the country must stop, especially for those who have had ideals and “because of ambition or personal or group disorder they renounce it without thinking about the simple people who suffer every day.”
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Message. The Archbishop of Lima, Carlos Castillo, prayed for victims of the pandemic and the crisis. Photo: diffusion
He added that the poorest put their suffering in the arms of Jesus, open on the cross, and “they want there to be justice, peace, honesty, that there be no corruption, or ties under the table, but that there be sincerity and seek the common good ”.
Palace adviser resigns
On Holy Thursday there was another exit in the team close to President Castillo. Wilson Gari Pretel Mostacero, investigated for being part of the alleged ‘shadow cabinet’, presented his resignation letter in which he states that for “strictly personal” reasons he is leaving the position of head of the technical cabinet of the Government Palace.
Yesterday, the Peru Libre party also spoke out against Cardinal Pedro Barreto’s announcement of changes in the current ministerial cabinet. He indicated that “the only radical change that should be is for the Catholic Church to side with the poor and not continue to side with the rich.”
