Peru president ousted after ‘coup attempt’ and replaced with his vice president

Tom Davidson
·1 min read
Peru president ousted after ‘coup attempt’ and replaced with his vice president

The president of Peru was kicked out of office just hours after he ordered the dissolution of the country’s parliament on Wednesday.

Pedro Castillo had been in power for 17 months but was replaced by his vice president Dina Boluarte after attempting to block his own impeachment.

Mr Castillo said he was replacing Congress with an “exceptional emergency government”.

Lawmakers ignored this and, in an emergency meeting, impeached him. He was then detained and accused of rebellion.

He was heading to the Mexican embassy in the capital when he was arrested, according to local reports.

Ms Boluarte, 60, said she would govern until July 2026, which is when Mr Castillo’s presidency would have ended.

Peruvian Vice President Boluarte's swearing-in (REUTERS)
Peruvian Vice President Boluarte's swearing-in (REUTERS)

Shortly after taking office she called for a political truce.

“What I ask for is a space, a time to rescue the country,” she said.

President Pedro Castillo’s sudden downfall began with him giving an address on national television in which he declared a state of emergency.

He said he would dissolve the opposition-controlled Congress hours before it was due to start fresh impeachment proceedings against him , a move which was met with shock in Peru - several ministers resigned in protest.

But Congress convened an emergency session and held the impeachment vote Mr Castillo had been trying to prevent.

The result was overwhelming: 101 voted in favour of impeaching him, with only six against and 10 abstentions.

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