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WORLD NEWS Wednesday 30 March 2022
Peru's president survives 2nd impeachment effort in 8 months

By FRANKLIN BRICEÑO and who was ordered freed
REGINA GARCIA CANO earlier this month in a con-
Associated Press troversial decision by Peru's
LIMA, Peru (AP) — Pedro highest court. He was serv-
Castillo, Peru's embattled ing a 25-year sentence
president, avoided join- for his role in more than 20
ing the South American murders during his adminis-
nation's list of impeached tration between 1990 and
leaders as opposition law- 2000.
makers Monday night Peru has also been seeing
failed to get enough votes demonstrations across the
to remove him from office country in recent days to
eight months into his term. protest prices for food, fuel
Castillo, a political neo- and fertilizer.
phyte who shook the coun- Navas said Castillo is now
try when he defeated the likely to try to show any re-
political elite to become sults his administration has
president, survived his sec- achieved in an effort to win
ond impeachment at- support for his administra-
tempt. He characterized tion, but that likely will not
the accusations against affect public opinion.
him as speculation and ar- She said the country is in
gued that none could be need of a "comprehensive
substantiated. Peru's President Pedro Castillo, center, surrounded by his party´s congressmen leaves Congress political reform" that pro-
The votes of at least 87 of where lawmakers voted to go forward with proceedings on whether or not to impeach Castillo in motes public participation
the 130 lawmakers were Lima, Peru, Monday, March 28, 2022. and "strengthens the rules
needed to remove the Associated Press for political parties' internal
president. Fifty-five voted consultations to elect their
in favor, 54 against and 19 ers hours before the vote. political instability." March by the newspaper candidates."
abstained. While Castillo remains in The debate in Congress "La República" said Con- "Measures to ensure the
"I salute that common office, the latest move lasted several hours. gress' disapproval rate was suitability of those holding
sense, responsibility and against him will add to Peru's unicameral Con- 79%, while 68% had nega- political power are also
democracy prevailed," Peru's political turmoil and gress is deeply fragmented tive views of Castillo. required," Navas said. "A
Castillo tweeted after the weaken the president, who among 10 political parties The debate over Castillo's reform is also needed to
vote. "I recognize the law- won office with just 44,000 and rarely can come to future came just as the introduce clear criteria for
makers who voted against more votes than his oppo- any consensus on passing country awaited the re- Congress to impeach a
the vacancy, and I respect nent in a runoff election. He legislation. Castillo's party lease from prison of former president on the grounds of
the decision of those who was an underdog when he is the biggest faction, but it President Alberto Fujijmori, 'moral incapacity.'"q
did. I call everyone to turn entered the race last year has only 37 seats, and op-
this page and work togeth- and initially campaigned position members lead key
er for the great challenges on promises to nationalize committees.
of the country." Peru's crucial mining indus- The government invited
The lawmakers seeking to try and rewrite the constitu- three officials from the Or-
remove Castillo had noted tion. ganization of American
he is the subject of three From the start, Castillo, a ru- States to witness the de-
preliminary investigations ral schoolteacher in a poor bate. Lawmakers allowed
into possible corruption, Andean district, has been them to watch it from a
which under Peruvian law handicapped by his Cabi- nearby building.
cannot proceed until he is net choices, a number of Castillo succeeded Fran-
out of office. There is also a whom have been accused cisco Sagasti, who was ap-
separate accusation from of wrongdoing. So has his pointed president by Con-
a would-be collaborator former private secretary, gress in November 2020 as
who alleged he is part of whose corruption investi- the country cycled through
a criminal group that re- gation led the prosecutor's three heads of state in one
ceives money in exchange office to find $20,000 in a week amid confrontations
for public works. bathroom of the presiden- that left two people dead
The lawmakers accused tial palace. and more than 200 injured.
Castillo of "permanent "Recent developments "Vacating presidents has
moral incapacity," a term have confirmed Peru's dys- become a sport," said cen-
incorporated into Peruvian functionality, regardless trist lawmaker Wilmar Elera,
constitutional laws that ex- of who is in power," said who recalled that President
perts say lacks an objec- Claudia Navas, an analyst Martín Vizcarra was dis-
tive definition and that with the global firm Con- missed by Congress in 2020
Congress has used six times trol Risks. "These events will for permanent moral inca-
since 2017 to try to remove certainly exacerbate Pe- pacity but has not faced
presidents. ruvian's frustration towards any charges since.
"We only found comments the political system, which Congress and Castillo are
without any corroboration, represents a risk because both unpopular in Peru, al-
speculation, imaginary they will be willing to sup- though the disapproval of
links," Castillo said of the port an authoritarian lead- legislators is greater. A sur-
accusations while reading er as a desperate measure vey by the Institute of Pe-
a speech before lawmak- to overcome protracted ruvian Studies published in