Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Reuters
Reuters
Politics
Marco Aquino and Carolina Pulice

Peru's Castillo comes out fighting after impeachment vote, slams 'institutional crisis'

Peru's President Pedro Castillo waves as he walks a day after lawmakers voted to start an impeachment process against him, in Lima, Peru March 15, 2022. REUTERS/Sebastian Castaneda

Peruvian President Pedro Castillo on Tuesday rejected allegations of corruption and told Congress, which passed a motion to impeach him earlier this week that all branches of government are in crisis right now.

"Peru is going through an institutional crisis without precedent," Castillo said in a rare hour-long speech. "We will send to the Congress of the republic a set of reforms that will allow us to overcome this structural crisis," he said.

Peru's President Pedro Castillo waves after addressing the audience a day after lawmakers voted to start an impeachment process against him, in Lima, Peru March 15, 2022. Ernesto Arias/Peru's Congress of the Republic/Handout via REUTERS

The speech marked Castillo's most aggressive defense so far of his embattled administration, which is facing allegations of corruption that he denies. Since taking office in July, Castillo's approval rating has slipped fast, now hovering at around 25%.

While Castillo recognized errors, he did not name any. Castillo's government has been marked by crises and he has cycled through more Cabinet members than any other administration in recent history, including four prime ministers.

An impeachment attempt in December failed to get enough votes to be admitted in the opposition-led Congress, but a second effort this week passed. Castillo is now scheduled to go through an impeachment trial on March 28, after which Congress will need 66% support to oust him.

Peru's President Pedro Castillo addresses the audience a day after lawmakers voted to start an impeachment process against him, in Lima, Peru March 15, 2022. Ernesto Arias/Peru's Congress of the Republic/Handout via REUTERS

Peru, the world's No. 2 copper producer, has had five different presidents since 2018, a period marked by political instability and infighting between the different branches of power, including frequent impeachment attempts.

"I understand the power of Congress to exercise oversight and political control, however, these mechanisms cannot be exercised by mediating the abuse of the right, proscribed in the constitution, ignoring the popular will expressed at the polls," he said.

(Reporting by Carolina Pulice and Marco Aquino; Editing by Stephen Coates)

Police officers stand guard as supporters of Peruvian President Pedro Castillo demonstrate in the street, a day after lawmakers voted to start an impeachment process against him, in Lima, Peru March 15, 2022. REUTERS/Sebastian Castaneda
People demonstrate on the street a day after lawmakers voted to start an impeachment process against Peru's President Pedro Castillo, in Lima, Peru March 15, 2022. The sign reads "#Castillo out. Out now" REUTERS/Sebastian Castaneda
A supporter of Peruvian President Pedro Castillo holds a sign that reads "Closure of the Congress", a day after lawmakers voted to start an impeachment process against him, in Lima, Peru March 15, 2022. REUTERS/Sebastian Castaneda
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.