CNN
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Dina Boluarte was inaugurated as Peru’s first female president Wednesday, capping a dramatic day when her predecessor was arrested on treason charges and impeached by lawmakers.
Boluarte, the country’s former vice president, has sworn in for the highest office in Congress, becoming Peru’s sixth president in less than five years.
The ceremony came hours after a majority of 101 members of the 130-member legislature voted to impeach former leader Pedro Castillo.
A tumultuous day began when then-President Castillo announced plans to dissolve parliament and install an emergency government ahead of a looming impeachment vote by lawmakers that Peru’s ombudsman described as an “unsuccessful coup.” rice field.
He also called for parliamentary elections to work on a new constitution.
The move provoked a series of cabinet resignations, fierce reactions from senior officials, condemnation from local neighbors, and ultimately failed to prevent his impeachment in Parliament.
The Peruvian military rejected Castillo’s attempt to sideline the deputies, calling it “unconstitutional.”
Borarte himself also criticized Castillo’s plan to disband on Twitter, describing it as “a coup that exacerbates the political and institutional crisis that Peruvian society must overcome by adhering to the law.”
International officials have joined the chorus of Castillo’s condemnation, with the United States urging Castillo to “reverse” the move and “allow Peru’s democratic institutions to function according to the Constitution,” said U.S. Ambassador to Peru Lisa. Kena said. said on Twitter.
“We continue to oppose and categorically reject any unconstitutional or undermining of Peru’s democracy,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.
Argentina’s foreign ministry expresses ‘deep concern’ over Peru’s political crisis ina statement on twitterand Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that Castillo’s actions were “incompatible with the country’s constitutional framework and [and] It means a violation of democracy and the rule of law. ”
Castillo was detained by police in the capital Lima after parliament impeached him.
Images shared by the prefecture showed the former president in a blue jacket sitting around a table as officials signed documents.
In a statement, Peru’s attorney general’s office said Castillo had been arrested on charges of rebellion “violating the constitutional order.”
Peru’s Attorney General Patricia Benavidez said in a statement, “We condemn the violation of the constitutional order.” Peru’s political constitution provides for the separation of powers and establishes Peru as a democratic and sovereign republic. No authority can be placed above the Constitution, and constitutional obligations must be followed.”
CNN has reached out to Castillo’s legal team for comment on the allegations.
This is a humiliating end to Castillo’s short tenure. A former schoolteacher and union leader, he rose from obscurity by a narrow margin in a runoff vote in July 2021 and was seen as part of the “pink tide” of new left-wing leaders in Latin America.
He ran for a platform promising to increase the redistribution of wealth by rewriting the constitution and giving the state greater control over markets and natural resources. The lack of public opinion, and the promises he struggled to deliver amid strong conservative opposition in Congress.
The leftist leader’s government has been in turmoil since its inception, with dozens of ministers appointed, replaced, dismissed or stepping down, putting more pressure on him in just over a year.
Castillo has lashed out at the opposition for trying to remove him from his first day in office. He accuses Benavidez of orchestrating what he calls a new form of “coup” against him through an investigation of her office.
In October, Benavidez filed a constitutional complaint against Castillo based on three of the six investigations her office initiated. The complaint allows Congress to conduct its own investigation into the former president.
Castillo, among other allegations, questioned whether he used his position to benefit himself, his family, and his closest allies by pitching influence to gain support and preferential treatment. We are facing a cascading investigation.
Castillo has repeatedly denied all allegations and reiterated his willingness to cooperate with the investigation. It claims to be the result of hunting.
The former president faces five preliminary criminal investigations for allegedly masterminding a corruption scheme while in office. These include his “criminal network”, which interferes with public institutions such as the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the Ministry of Housing, and Peru’s National Oil Company to control public tender processes and benefit certain companies and close allies. including prosecutor’s allegations that the
Prosecutors are also investigating whether the former president led efforts to exert influence over the process of promoting officers in both the military and the national police.
These investigations also look at Castillo’s family, including his wife and sister-in-law. Former First Lady Lilia Paredes is under investigation for allegedly coordinating her criminal network. Her attorney, Benji Espinoza, has stressed her innocence and claims the investigation against her former first lady contains “many flaws and omissions.”
Her sister-in-law, Yennifer Paredes, is under investigation for allegedly being part of a criminal organization, money laundering and aggravated collusion. She was held until a judge rescinded her “preventive detention” for 30 months. She also denies her wrongdoing.
“My daughter, my wife and my whole family have been attacked with the sole purpose of destroying me because they do not want me to finish my term. I promise to finish my term. I am not corrupt. During a televised address at the Presidential Palace on Oct. 20.
In the same speech, Castillo acknowledged that some of his closest allies should be brought to justice over allegations of corruption, saying, “If they have betrayed my trust, let justice take over.” Stated.
President Boruarte’s image was also tarnished by a parliamentary inquiry into her own constitution that was rejected on 5 December.
Her dominance does not necessarily ease Peru’s toxic and resentful political climate.
Meanwhile, many Peruvians are seeking a complete reset. In September 2022, 60% of Peruvians said they would support early elections to revamp both the presidency and parliament, according to a poll by the Institute of Peru (IEP).
