The political crisis does not subside in Peru: Pedro Castillo faces a new request for impeachment

The president of Peru, Pedro Castillo, faces a new request for impeachment, presented this Tuesday by the political opposition in Congress for an alleged “permanent moral incapacity” to continue in the position he assumed on July 28, 2021.

The new motion for the vacancy (removal) was promoted by independent legislator Edward Málaga and was delivered with the signatures of 67 members of Congress from the opposition parties Fuerza Popular, Alianza para el Progreso, Renovación Popular, Avanza País and Somos Perú .

The document, of more than 100 pages, ensures that “it is unacceptable that a president holds an office in the midst of strong indications of corruptiongross unworthiness or moral and ethical questions”.

In this sense, refers to the accusations launched against Castilloand their closest environment, as alleged members of an allegedly corrupt organization in the Executive and also mentions “the takeover and dismantling of the state apparatus through the appointment of high-ranking officials with serious problems”.

Málaga argued that this initiative is “the first step in advancing towards the general elections” in his country, where the Executive and the Legislative a tough political struggle since the beginning of the current administration.

Subsequently, the president of the Congress, José Williams, announced that the president had already been informed of the new motion to dismiss and convened a meeting of the college spokesmen of the different colleges to analyze the matter.

In accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and the regulations of the Peruvian Congress, in the next plenary session, the date of which has not yet been confirmed, the consult MPs if they admit it on the agenda with the vacancy request.

The regulation indicates that the motion requires, at least, the favorable vote of 40% of the deputies working days to be admitted to processing, in this case 52 votes.

If approved, the discussion and vote on the motion will have to “inevitably” take place in the next” plenary session of the Legislature, where in order to be accepted – and Castillo dismissed – it will have to receive the favorable vote of at least 87 legislators.

Third recall petition

This is the ninth trial of its kind that a Peruvian president faces since 1992 and the third they try to subject Castillo towhich put up a first request in December 2021, when the motion was not admitted to consideration, and a second process last March, when it collected only 55 votes in favour.

The political crisis gripping Pedro Castillo had its most recent episode less than a week ago, when the president delivered a surprise message to the nation announcing he would renew his cabinet after accepting his prime minister’s resignation. , Aníbal Torres, due to a new fight with Congress.

Torres, a 79-year-old lawyer who took office in February, had warned he would resign if Congress did not debate the referendum bill. And he fourth Chief of Staff to leave office since Castillo took office 16 months ago.

Source: EFE