Peru’s President Pedro Castillo is detained after deciding to dissolve Congress and establish a national emergency government. Peruvian President Pedro Castillo announced the dissolution of Congress, which he accused of trying to overthrow the government, and the formation of an emergency government.
In his address to the nation, Pedro Castillo said that the Congress was dissolved, that the emergency government would rule the country as of today, and that elections would be held for a new Congress and a new constitution would be drafted within 9 months.
Stating that Congress targeted his government, Castillo said, “Congress has destroyed the rule of law and democracy. It disrupted the balance of powers with the approval of the Constitutional Court to establish a ‘Congress dictatorship’.”
Castillo noted the following:
“In response to citizen demand, we have decided to form a government of emergency to restore the rule of law and democracy, including the following measures: the temporary dissolution of Congress and the creation of an extraordinary emergency government. In no more than 9 months, organize elections as soon as possible for a new Congress with constituent powers to draft a new constitution. Until a new Congress is established, governance will continue through decrees. A nationwide curfew will be imposed from today from 22.00-04.00. The judiciary, the prosecutor’s office, the Constitutional Court and the National Council of Justice will be reorganized.”
Castillo, who has faced three no-confidence motions in 17 months, said he was not corrupt and that Congress was working to overthrow his government.
– Congress members called the dissolution a “coup”
Following President Castillo’s decision to dissolve Congress, members of Congress from various political blocs described the move as a “coup d’état”.
Left-wing Congresswoman Ruth Luque, who advocated for Castillo to remain in office in the no-confidence motions submitted to Congress, said on her Twitter account, “A coup d’état was staged today. My call has always been to respect the existing constitutional frameworks. The government of Pedro Castillo is no longer a democratic government.”
Right-wing Congressman Jose Cueto said, “What Castillo did is a coup. No one has to submit to a usurper government. The army will support the constitution, not the dictator. (Castillo) will be removed from office and will face the fate that every criminal must face: life imprisonment.”
Congresswoman Martha Moyano called on people to remain calm and for the military and security forces to stand with democracy.
Hector Ventura said, “We will tighten the ranks, today it is up to us to be on the right side of history. We will not allow Pedro Castillo’s coup attempt to succeed.”
Several members of Congress also noted that a session of Congress will be organized to remove Castillo from office.
– Castillo’s decision brought resignations in his government
In a statement on his Twitter account, Peruvian Foreign Minister Cesar Landa said, “In strict adherence to my beliefs, democratic and constitutional values, I have decided to irrevocably resign as Foreign Minister in the face of President Castillo’s decision to dissolve Congress in violation of the Constitution.”
Describing Castillo’s decision as a coup d’état and strongly condemning it, Landa said he had nothing to do with it and called on the international community to support democracy in Peru.
Minister of Economy and Finance Kurt Burneo posted on his social media account, “In accordance with my democratic principles, I submit my irrevocable resignation as Minister of Economy and Finance, as the rule of law has been violated.”
Minister of Justice and Human Rights Felix Chero Medina said on his Twitter account, “Respecting democratic institutionalism and in the face of the announcement of the dissolution of Congress and the creation of a national emergency government, I irrevocably resign as Minister of Justice and Human Rights.”
Minister of Labor Alejandro Salas announced on his Twitter account that he was “resigning from his post out of respect for democracy, based on his principles”.
Rosendo Serna Roman, Minister of Education, announced his resignation, saying, “With unlimited respect for my beliefs and democratic values, in the face of President Castillo’s unconstitutional decision to dissolve Congress, I have decided to resign irrevocably from the position of Minister of Education.”
The Minister of Communications and Transport, Richard Tineo Quispe, also announced, “With respect for democracy and in accordance with my principles, and in the face of the announcement of the dissolution of Congress and the creation of a national emergency government, I irrevocably resign from my position as Minister of Transport and Communications.”
In addition to the ministers, Castillo’s lawyer Benji Espinoza said on his Twitter account, “Due to a break in the constitutional order, I must irrevocably abandon the defense of citizen Pedro Castillo.”
– Morales’ statement
“Today there was a coup d’état in the purest style of the 20th century, but it is a coup that is doomed to fail, because Peru wants to live in democracy. This coup has no legal basis.”
Morales said that according to the constitution, Vice President Dina Boluarte, who did not support Castillo’s decision, should take over the presidency.
