Peru - December 2022

On 7 December, 101 out of 130 members of Congress voted to impeach then-President Pedro Castillo, soon after he announced the dissolution of Congress, alleging that the legislative body had been obstructing his ability to govern. Castillo had been the subject of multiple investigations by Congress and the Attorney General’s office for corruption-related offenses. 

Castillo was detained and is facing criminal charges. He maintains his commitment to fulfilling his constitutional mandate as president and has sought political asylum in Mexico. Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, and Mexico have expressed their backing of Castillo.  

Dina Boluarte, until then Vice-President, assumed the presidency on the evening of his impeachment.  

Castillo’s supporters have protested throughout the country calling for early elections. On 14 December, Boluarte declared a country-wide state of emergency for 30 days and the suspension of rights with a view to restoring order. Violent clashes between protesters and police, particularly in the southern Andean region, have resulted in dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries.

Sources: El Pais (1), El Pais (2), CNN, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Gobierno del Peru