Dina Boluarte replaces Peru's President

Dina Boluarte replaces Peru’s President Pedro Castillo (22-23)

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Dina Boluarte replaces Peru’s President Pedro Castillo, Peru becomes the first female president after former President Pedro Castillo was impeached – hours after trying to dissolve parliament.

Dina Boluarte – the first vice president – was sworn in on Wednesday after a dramatic day in Lima. Dina Boluaarte said she will rule until 2026,

Earlier in the day, Mr. Castillo said he was replacing Congress with an “extraordinary emergency government”.

But the MPs ignored this and impeached him in an emergency meeting. He was then taken into custody and charged with mutiny. Ms. Boluarte, a 60-year-old lawyer, said she would govern until July 2026, when Mr. Castillo’s presidency expires.

“What I ask for is a space, a time to save the country,” she said. Speaking after taking the oath of office, he called for a political struggle to overcome the crisis gripping the country.

Dina Boluarte replaces Peru’s President Pedro Castillo (22-23)

Dina Boluarte replaces Peru's President
Dina Boluarte replaces Peru’s President Pedro Castillo (22-23)

Wednesday’s dramatic series of events began with President Pedro Castillo giving a speech on national television in which he declared a state of emergency. He announced he would dissolve the opposition-controlled Congress, a move that shocked Peru. – Several ministers resigned in protest –

The head of the constitutional court accused him of launching the coup, while the US “strongly urged” Mr. Castillo to reverse his decision. Peru’s police and armed forces issued a joint statement in which they said they respected the constitutional order. Mr. Castillo tried to dissolve Congress just hours before fresh impeachment proceedings were to begin against him

Third since he took office in July 2021. In his televised address, he said: “In response to the demands of citizens across the country, we have decided to set up an extraordinary government with the aim of re-establishing the rule of law and democracy.” He said that “a new Congress with constitutional powers to frame a new constitution” would be convened within “not more than nine months”.

But Congress, which is controlled by parties opposed to Mr. Castillo, called an emergency session and held the impeachment vote that Mr. Castillo was trying to block. The result was overwhelming with 101 voting in favor of impeaching him, only six against, and 10 voting against.

Clashes between police and angry Castillo supporters in Lima

Dina Boluarte replaces Peru's President
Dina Boluarte replaces Peru’s President Pedro Castillo (22-23)

Castillo was seen at the police compound after the impeachment. In the pictures – which were shared by the police on Twitter but later removed – he could be seen sitting, relaxed, and talking to others. This was followed by footage of Mr. Castillo signing papers with prosecutors. He was later taken into custody and charged with sedition for breaking the constitutional order.

Peru is going through a rocky political period, with several presidents being removed from office in recent years. In 2020, it had three presidents within five days. Mr. Castillo, a left-wing former school teacher, was elected in June 2021 in a polarizing election in which he defeated his right-wing rival, Keiko Fujimori. He has recently been fighting corruption charges, which he said were part of a conspiracy to oust him.

Releated

Peru anti-government protest grips capital Lima

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