Peru President Impeached For Rebellion, Boluarte Takes Over

Former Peru President Pedro Castillo has been arrested and the former leader is facing likely charges of rebellion.

Castillo had planned to dissolve Congress after he was impeached by the opposition-controlled legislation body. However, Congress acted swiftly, voting to remove the 53-year-old from his office.

His bodyguards also reportedly stopped him from seeking refuge at an embassy, BBC reported.

It did not take long for Peru to install a new president. Dina Boluarte would be sworn in as president, just hours after Castillo was impeached.

Boluarte thus becomes the country’s first female president. She added that she would govern Peru until July 2026 – the time when the term of Castillo was set to end.

Ironically, Castillo and Boluarte were running mates in the 2021 elections. However, the latter distanced herself from the ex-President on Wednesday, particularly when Castillo tried to dissolve Congress which she deemed as an attempted coup.

After being sworn in, Boluarte pleaded with Peruvians to come together for national unity and asked for a truce for her to fight corruption.

The head of the constitutional court said Mr. Castillo's dissolution of Congress violated the constitution.

Moments after Castillo’s televised announcement, many of his allies started abandoning him. That included ministers, who resigned within minutes.

It was also added that Castillo tried to flee the presidential palace with his family and seek refuge, reportedly at the Mexican embassy in Lima.

However, he was stopped after top police officials ordered a security officer driving the vehicle to stop. The 53-year-old deposed leader would then be escorted to police premises where Peru’s attorney general detained Castillo on suspicion of rebellion.

Mexico was asked if they had gotten requests for asylum from Castillo. Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard declined to comment but did point out that his country had a history of granting asylum to those facing political persecution.

All eyes are now on the new President, Dina Boluarte, to see who she will choose for her new cabinet.