MIAMI, United States. – The President of PeruPedro Castillo, was arrested this Wednesday, three hours after announcing the dissolution of Congress and decreeing an emergency government, the Peruvian Police reported.
In the early hours of the day, Castillo temporarily dissolved Congress and established a national emergency government, shortly before Parliament debated a vacancy (removal) motion against him.
Finally, Congress met this Wednesday as planned and dismissed Castillo for “permanent moral incapacity” with 130 votes in favor and 101 against.
In a message announcing the dissolution of Congress, broadcast on national television, Castillo said that he would call elections to choose a Constituent Assembly and that, in the meantime, he would govern through decree-laws.
He also reported that a curfew would be imposed from 12:00 p.m. this Wednesday.
“To convene in the shortest term elections for a new Congress with constituent powers to prepare a new Constitution within a period not exceeding nine months. As of that date and until the new Congress is established, it will be governed by decree law,” Castillo said on a national television channel.
“The Justice system, the Judiciary, the Public Ministry, the National Board of Justice and the Constitutional Court are declared to be in reorganization,” he added.
After the Peruvian president’s announcement on Wednesday morning, there was a wave of rejection and resignations within his own cabinet.
“Having violated the rule of law and in line with my democratic principles, I present my irrevocable resignation from the position of Minister of Economy and Finance”, announced on Twitter Kurt Borneo.
“Consistent with my principles and with full respect for democracy, I have submitted my resignation from the Ministerial Cabinet. I am grateful for having served the country during the time that I was in charge of the Culture and Labor portfolios”, Alejandro A. Salas joined.
Meanwhile, Cesar Landa ad that “in strict adherence” to his convictions and democratic and constitutional values, he had decided to irrevocably resign from the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs, following President Castillo’s decision to close the Congress of the Republic, violating the Constitution.
For its part, the United States Embassy in Peru rejected on Twitter “any extra-constitutional act of President Castillo to prevent Congress from fulfilling its mandate.”
“The United States strongly urges President Castillo to reverse his attempt to shut down Congress and allow Peru’s democratic institutions to function according to the Constitution,” the embassy added.
This Wednesday a hearing on a motion of censure was scheduled in the Peruvian Congress, in which Castillo had to respond to the Legislature’s accusation of having “permanent moral incapacity” to govern (for the third time since he took office in July 2021).
According to Castillo, those who are promoting the impeachment trial against him intend to “dynamit democracy and disregard the right to choose” of Peruvians, in addition to wanting to “take advantage and seize the power that the people took from them at the polls.”
News in development
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