Peruvian president dissolves parliament and declares state of exception

The president of Peru, Pedro Castillo, announced this Wednesday (7) that he will dissolve Parliament and bring forward elections in the country. He also decreed a state of exception, saying he will maintain the current economic model in the country during the period in which Congress is dissolved.

Pedro Castillo has been facing a permanent crisis since he assumed the Presidency, just over a year and a half ago. This Wednesday, Parliament was supposed to analyze the third process of dismissal of the populist left-wing politician, and his announcement came just hours before the debate.

The Peruvian press and opposition deputies, who are the majority in Congress, called Castillo’s move a coup d’état. Some ministers tendered their resignations moments after the announcement, including Chancellor César Landa, Alejandro Salas (Labour) and Kurt Burneo (Economy). Army commander General Walter Córdova did the same.

“I determine the following measures: temporarily dissolve the Congress of the Republic, install an exceptional emergency government and convene as soon as possible a new Congress with constituent power, to draw up a new Constitution within a period of up to nine months”, said the president, in a speech broadcast on TV.

“A curfew is also decreed throughout the country from 10 pm this Wednesday (7) until 4 am the following day, and the reorganization of the justice system – the Judiciary, the Public Ministry, the National Board of Justice and the Constitutional Court.”

According to Castillo, the measure was taken with a view to restoring the rule of law and democracy in Peru.

The so-called vacancy motion had been filed on the 29th by a group led by deputy Edward Málaga, accusing the president of moral incapacity to govern. The day before, another congressman had already presented a suspension motion, which would remove Castillo for 12 months so that actions against him can be judged in court.

The vacancy mechanism is a kind of impeachment, although it is a distinct legal figure. In the two previous motions, in December last year and March this year, the opposition failed to mobilize support, keeping the leftist in office.

Plunged into crisis, the Executive and Legislative had been accusing each other of plotting a coup d’état, to dissolve Congress or overthrow the president, depending on the view.

On the last 25th, Castillo had announced a renewal of his cabinet, the fifth in 16 months in office – a mandatory process after the resignation of the prime minister, Aníbal Torres. Former deputy Betssy Chávez was nominated for the post, but both she and the new ministers would have to obtain a vote of confidence in Parliament, amidst the climate of confrontation.

Castillo had been trying to fulfill a campaign promise to form a Constituent Assembly, but without finding an echo for it in Congress. The Peruvian constitution states that if the government is defeated in a confidence vote, the president must recompose his cabinet. If the process is repeated, the Chief Executive can then dissolve Parliament and call new legislative elections.