Protests erupted across the country when President Castillo was impeached by Congress last week and replaced by his vice president Dina Boluarte, Peru’s first female president. Boluarte sworn in, Castillo was arrested shortly after his impeachment for trying to dissolve parliament in an attempt to avoid impeachment proceedings.
Corruption
The politician was under indictment for corruption, shortly after his impeachment, the former president was arrested and charged by prosecutors with rebellion and conspiracy. Castillo’s supporters then called for Peru to hold elections rather than let Boluarte stay in power until Castillo’s term expires in 2026.
Riots broke out not only in Peru’s second city and other provincial cities, but riots also broke out in the capital Lima, and buildings belonging to the Ministry of Justice and radio and television stations were attacked. Since then the unrest has widened, the interior minister has declared a state of emergency for two regions. Although President Dina Boularte has now promised snap elections, tempers have not calmed down.
“I have decided to introduce a bill to reach an agreement with Congress to move the general election forward to April 2024,” he said in an address to the nation yesterday, adding that he would pass the legislation in “the next few days.” .
Support farmers
The ousted president has the support of farmers’ unions and indigenous peoples’ organizations, who have called for an “indefinite strike” to begin today. The Agrarian and Rural Front union demanded the immediate release of Castillo, the suspension of Congress, early elections and a new constitution. News channel Al Jazeera reports that recent polls show nearly nine out of 10 Peruvians disapprove of the country’s legislature after years of political scandals and instability. The country now has its sixth president since 2016.