Castillo impeached by Congress, detained by police: Peru

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Peru's Congress on Wednesday voted to impeach President Pedro Castillo, ignoring his decision to dissolve the legislature just hours earlier.

The vote to impeach him for "moral incapacity" was approved by 101 of a total of 130 lawmakers, in a session broadcast live on television despite Castillo announcing the dissolution of Congress and the installation of an emergency government.

Following the impeachment vote, the President of Congress summoned Vice President Dina Boluarte to swear in as President.

Amid the political crisis in the country, the Peruvian police detained President Pedro Castillo, according to a police report.

At the same time, in an official statement, the police called the head of state the ex-President.

"In pursuance of our duties, prescribed in the law on the National Police of Peru, the officers detained the ex-president of Peru, Pedro Castillo," the statement says.

Earlier, Castillo announced in a televised address to the nation that he was "temporarily dissolving Congress... and installing an exceptional emergency government." 

He said he would convene a new Congress "as soon as possible to draft a new Constitution within a period of no more than nine months."

"From this date and until the new Congress is established, the country will be governed by decree law. A national curfew is decreed as of today from 10:00pm to 4:00am," he added. 

Castillo also declared the "reorganization of the justice system, the judiciary powers of the public ministry, the national board of justice and the constitutional court."

Peru VP denounces 'coup d'etat' after Castillo dissolves Congress

Dina Boluarte, Peru's VP, denounced what she called a "coup d'etat" after Castillo's announcement to dissolve the Congress.

"I reject Pedro Castillo's decision to break the constitutional order by dissolving Congress. It is a coup d'etat that aggravates the political and institutional crisis" in the country, Boluarte wrote on Twitter.

Rechazo la decisión de Pedro Castillo de perpetrar el quiebre del orden constitucional con el cierre del Congreso. Se trata de un golpe de Estado que agrava la crisis política e institucional que la sociedad peruana tendrá que superar con estricto apego a la ley.

— Dina Boluarte Z. (@DinaErcilia) December 7, 2022

Peru's armed forces and police had warned Castillo against dissolving the legislature, explaining that the country's President is entitled to dissolve Congress if the legislature carries out two no-confidence votes in Cabinet and that any action to the contrary would constitute a "violation of the constitution."

US calls on Peru President to reverse Congress dissolution

In the same context, the United States called on Castillo to reverse his dissolution of Congress.

"The United States strongly urges President Castillo to reverse his attempt to shut down Congress and to permit democratic institutions to function in accordance with the constitution," the US Ambassador in Lima, Lisa Kenna, wrote on Twitter.

It is noteworthy that Castillo, a former school teacher, who unexpectedly took power from Peru's traditional political elite, has faced non-stop crises, with repeated cabinet reshuffles, multiple alleged corruption investigations, and protests since he was elected in July last year.

The opposition had repeatedly sought to impeach the President for "moral incapacity", a constitutional provision that has seen two Peruvian presidents sacked since 2018. Although Castillo avoided impeachment two times before, he has remained under fire.

He recently appointed his fifth prime minister and cabinet since his election, while thousands took to the streets in November to demand his removal from office.

Castillo is also under investigation in six alleged corruption cases, including accusations against his family and political entourage, which he all denies.

"I have never stolen from my country, I am not corrupt," he said on Tuesday.