Peru: Lawmakers propose motion to impeach incumbent President Boluarte
A group of Peruvian legislators file an impeachment motion against President Dina Boluarte for her handling of nearly two months of protests following the ousting of Pedro Castillo.
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Supporters of ousted President Pedro Castillo clash with police forces in the Peruvian city of Juliaca, on January 7, 2023. (AFP)
Peruvian lawmakers, representing leftist parties and ousted President Pedro Castillo's political party Free Peru, proposed on Wednesday to impeach incumbent President Dina Boluarte on the grounds of "permanent moral incompetence."
"We propose to impeach Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra, the incumbent president of the Republic, on the grounds of permanent moral incompetence," lawmakers announced in a motion published by La Republica newspaper.
The motion cited the nationwide protests, the declaration of a state of emergency, the abuse of power by security forces against protestors, and the number of deaths from gunshot wounds during protests.
"We assume that neither Boluarte nor any of her cabinet ministers are willing to step down, even though our people continue to be literally and catastrophically massacred. There are no other terms to use," the document read.
Read next: Boluarte calls for 'truce' after weeks of bloody protests
Boluarte's impeachment could be considered at a plenary meeting of the Peruvian Congress on Thursday.
Peru's parliament impeached former President Pedro Castillo on December 7, 2022. He was arrested on alleged charges of a coup attempt and crimes against the state as he tried to dissolve the parliament and rule by decree before the impeachment vote.
The country witnessed a wave of protests and protestors have been denouncing the post-impeachment government, while calling for an immediate presidential election and the dissolution of the country's parliament. It is worth noting that the number of deaths since the outbreak of protests has exceeded 54 as of Saturday.
Boluarte said on Tuesday that she would resign as the country's leader as soon as the date of the snap presidential election is determined, and called on senators to speed up this process.
Read next: Peru's Boluarte won't step down despite calls for resignation
Peru's Interior Minister Vicente Romero said on Monday that he expects that the anti-government protests will continue.
"The social protests will continue. We are working intensively with the defense ministry to resolve them," Romero told the state TV Peru channel.
