Pedro Castillo, Peru’s former president, is on trial for rebellion after attempting to dissolve Congress to evade impeachment over corruption charges. He has been in custody since December 2022, and prosecutors are seeking a 34-year sentence. Amidst ongoing political instability, Vice President Dina Boluarte has taken over but faces scrutiny for her handling of protests and alleged corruption.
Pedro Castillo, Peru’s ousted ex-president, is currently on trial in Lima, facing charges of rebellion for attempting to dissolve Congress and rule by decree as a means to avoid impeachment related to corruption allegations. Described as Peru’s “first poor president” upon his election in 2021, he has been in preventive custody since December 2022. On the trial’s opening day, Castillo appeared accompanied by penitentiary agents, dressed in a light shirt and dark trousers, without his iconic straw hat.
Prosecutors are seeking a 34-year prison sentence against the 55-year-old Castillo for his alleged rebellion and abuse of authority. The former schoolteacher gained national attention as a union leader during a teacher’s strike in 2017. After assuming office in July 2021, he encountered significant political opposition and faced immediate investigations into various graft accusations, which he claimed were politically motivated to unseat him.
Despite surviving two impeachment votes, Castillo’s attempt to dissolve Congress followed the initiation of a third impeachment procedure. His arrest occurred while he sought refuge at the Mexican embassy in Lima, where his family remains as they pursue asylum. Castillo’s brief tenure of 17 months culminated in his impeachment, marking him as the fourth former president in Peru to face legal challenges related to corruption and human rights violations in the past 25 years.
Peru is enduring persistent political instability, having had six presidents within the last eight years. After Castillo’s removal, Dina Boluarte, his vice-president, assumed the presidency. Despite facing widespread protests calling for her resignation and early elections, she has maintained her position, albeit under scrutiny for her administration’s response to civil unrest that resulted in numerous fatalities, including children.
Boluarte is also being investigated for potential corruption related to alleged bribes involving luxury items and for purportedly neglecting her duties due to a medical procedure. However, she enjoys immunity from legal action until the conclusion of her presidential term in 2026, which she asserts was necessary and not cosmetic in nature.
Pedro Castillo’s trial epitomizes the ongoing political turmoil in Peru, highlighting concerns over corruption and governance. As the fourth former president implicated in legal troubles, his case reflects the instability that has plagued the nation in recent years, with significant implications for current leadership under Dina Boluarte. Amidst allegations of brutality and corruption, public demands for accountability and transparency remain paramount as the nation seeks stability.
Original Source: www.rfi.fr
