Castillo was sidelined because he wanted to dissolve parliament. Then protests broke out because the Peruvians do not want successor Dina Boluarte to finish Castillo’s mandate. Parliament was initially unwilling to do this, but more than two-thirds of MPs now accept early elections. A second vote must follow next year to ratify the constitutional amendment that makes it possible, says the parliament speaker. It has also been recorded that Boluarte will hand over power to the victor in July 2024.
Publication
In addition to early elections, protesters are also calling for Castillo’s release, but last week the Supreme Court ruled that he will remain in prison for another year and a half. A state of emergency is in force throughout Peru and Boluarte had previously called for calm. The protests killed at least 20 people and injured at least 340 others. Two ministers resigned over the deadly protests.
Mexico
Peru declared the Mexican ambassador in Lima undesirable and gave the diplomat 72 hours to leave the country. This decision follows the Mexican government’s decision to grant asylum to Castillo’s family. Several family members are in the Mexican embassy, although who exactly is unclear. The former president has two children.
Castillo himself tried to flee to that embassy but was arrested before he arrived. The court on Tuesday rejected a request by the prosecution to ban Castillo’s wife, Lilia Paredes, from leaving the country. She is under investigation for involvement in a money laundering ring.