The opposition-dominated Congress of Peru is expected to vote this Wednesday a motion to remove of President Pedro Castillo for “permanent moral incapacity”constitutional figure that has already led to the departure of two leaders since 2018.
The long session of the parliament is scheduled for 15:00 (17:00 in Argentina) “per discussion and vote the application for the vacancy of the Presidency of the Republic”, approved a week ago by 73 deputies.
To remove a president, the Constitution of Peru requires 87 votes, an amount of which she has not the opposition.
Of the 130 lawmakers who make up Peru’s powerful unicameral parliament, there are around 80 opponents. Pro-government benches and related groups bordering on 50.
The third in 16 months
The “Vacancy Motion” It’s the third against Castillo in 16 months in power and obeys allegations of corruption. In March, he fell short of the vote to remove him, and in December 2021, Congress rejected him before debating him.
“We propose the vacancy of the Presidency of the Republic, occupied by José Pedro Castillo Terrones for having incurred the cause of permanent moral incapacity”, says the motion which appeals to article 113 of the Constitution of Peru.
The prestige of Congress
The request arises when the prestige of Congress it’s on the floor due to corruption scandals and an 86% disapproval. in polls.
The president registers a 70% rejectionin addition to allegations of corruption to his political and family environment.
How is the session
Castillo, a 53-year-old rural teacher, was invited along with his lawyer, e you have 60 minutes defend oneself in this political rather than juridical evaluation.
The debate begins with the participation of the group leaders and subsequently with the intervention of the other legislators. It should last for hours.
“They intend to blow up democracy and ignore the people’s right to choose (…) to take advantage and take the power that the people took away from them at the polls,” Castillo warned yesterday.
Castillo: “I’m not corrupt”
“I never robbed my country, I’m not corruptHe reiterated this in a statement at the stroke of midnight on Tuesday.
If he is fired, he will replace him. its vice president Dina BoluarteAlthough if he resigns, it will be up to the president of Congress, José Williams, to take office.
the stubborn conflict between the executive and the legislative was fueled this year by a tax investigation against the president for running an alleged “criminal organization” that distribute public contracts in exchange for money.
For this reason the prosecution has asked to “suspend” (disable) Castillo, request that Congress is still considering since there is no precedent.
Since Castillo assumed the presidency in July 2021, after winning a second-round victory against right-winger Keiko Fujimori, he has lived under siege from Congress and the prosecution.
In October, he asked the OAS for mediation, denouncing “an ongoing coup”.
Since 2017, the Peruvian Congress has passed six motions for vacancy.
Similar demands caused the fall of right-wing presidents Pedro Pablo Kuczynski in 2018 and center-based Martín Vizcarra in 2020.
The opposition accuses Castillo, who is expected to govern until July 2026, of lack of purpose and allow alleged corruption in their environment.
Five cabinets and 80 ministers
They also criticize it his constant ministerial crises which translate into five closets and a rotation of 80 ministers, something unprecedented in Peru.
One of the reasons why the vacancy mechanism has become recurring is the lack of a parliamentary majority of the current government.
This has been happening since 2016, when Peru entered into a conflict dynamic that led it to have up to three presidents in one week in November 2020.
An OAS mission visited Peru in mid-November and released a report calling for “a 100-day political truce”.
Your Order fell into the void.
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights of the OAS had already warned in December 2021 of how it has been distorted, “due to a lack of objective definition, the figure of the presidential vacancy due to permanent moral incapacity and the impact it has on l Democratic Institutionality of Peru”.
Despite the political tension, Peru is calm and all public and private activities are carried out normally.
telam
Source: Clarin
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.