2022 Peruvian self-coup d'état attempt

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2022 Peruvian self-coup d'état attempt
Part of 2017–present Peruvian political crisis
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Date 7 December 2022
Location
Lima, Peru
Resulted in
Parties to the civil conflict
Lead figures
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Units involved
Number
Casualties and losses
Casualties

On 7 December 2022, President of Peru Pedro Castillo attempted to dissolve Congress in the face of imminent impeachment proceedings by the legislative body, immediately enacting a curfew, establishing an emergency government and calling for a constituent assembly.[1][2] The act was recognized by opposition politicians and media as a coup d'état, with some comparing it to the autogolpe of Alberto Fujimori during the 1992 Peruvian self-coup d'état.[3][4] Members of President Castillo's government resigned from their positions shortly after his announcement to dissolve congress, with the Armed Forces rejecting the president's actions as well.[4][5]

Castillo was impeached on the same day, and ceased to be president after the Constitutional Court rejected his dissolution of Congress.[6][7][8]

Background

Attempts to remove Castillo

Multiple attempts to remove President Castillo from office occurred throughout his presidency. In October 2021, the website El Foco released recordings revealing that leaders of the manufacturing employers' organization National Society of Industries (es), the leader of the Union of Multimodal Transport Guilds of Peru (UGTRANM), Geovani Rafael Diez Villegas, political leaders, and other business executives planned various actions, including funding transportation strikes in November 2021, in order to destabilize the Castillo government and prompt his removal.[9][10] Far-right groups of former soldiers also allied with political parties like Go on Country – Social Integration Party, Popular Force, and Popular Renewal in an effort to remove Castillo, with some veteran leaders seen directly with Rafael López Aliaga and Castillo's former presidential challenger Keiko Fujimori, who signed the Madrid Charter promoted by the Spanish far-right political party Vox.[11] These groups directed threats towards Castillo government officials and journalists, whilst also calling for a coup d'état and insurgency.[12]

Impeachment attempts

File:Mensaje a la Nación del presidente Pedro Castillo. 2-19 screenshot.png
President of Peru Pedro Castillo shortly before the first impeachment attempt

Using political avenues, Congress – which primarily comprised right-wing parties opposed to Castillo – attempted to impeach the president multiple times. Due to broadly interpreted impeachment wording in the 1993 Constitution of Peru, the Congress can impeach the President of Peru without cause, effectively making the legislature more powerful than the executive branch.[13][14][15][16]

In November 2021, four months into his term, Fujimori announced that her party was pushing forward impeachment proceedings, arguing that Castillo was "morally unfit for office".[17] On 25 November 28 legislators from Fujimori's party presented a signed motion of impeachment to congress, setting up a vote for opening impeachment proceedings against Castillo.[18] The impeachment proceeding did not occur, as 76 voted against proceedings, 46 were in favor, and 4 abstained, with a requirement of 52 favoring proceedings not being obtained.[19]

In February 2022, it was reported that Fujimorists and politicians close to Fujimori organized a meeting at the Casa Andina hotel in Lima with the assistance of the German liberal group Friedrich Naumann Foundation, with those present including Maricarmen Alva, President of the Congress of the Republic of Peru, discussing plans to remove President Castillo from office.[20] Alva had already shared her readiness to assume the presidency of Peru if Castillo were to be vacated from the position and a leaked Telegram group chat of the Board of Directors of Congress that she heads revealed plans coordinated to oust Castillo.[21][22]

A second impeachment attempt related to corruption allegations did make it to proceedings in March 2022.[23] On 28 March 2022, Castillo appeared before Congress calling the allegations baseless and for legislators to "vote for democracy" and "against instability", with 55 voting for impeachment, 54 voting against, and 19 abstaining, not reaching the 87 votes necessary for impeaching Castillo.[23][24]

Public approval of President Castillo has steadily declined as his presidency progressed and protests occurred in early 2022 as a result of increasing prices due to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, with crises surrounding the president arising steadily.[25][26][27] By December 2022, Congress had began motions to attempt the impeachment of President Castillo for a third time; he was involved with six different criminal investigations and had already named five separate cabinets to serve under him.[27]

Attempts to remove Boluarte

On 5 December 2022, just days before Congress was set to vote on impeaching President Castillo, after, a constitutional complaint was filed by the Subcommittee on Constitutional Accusations against Vice President of Peru Dina Boluarte, alleging that she operated a private club while she was the Minister of Development.[28] The allegations against Boluarte created the potential for the vice president to face controversy if Castillo were to be impeached.[28]

Timeline of events

Dissolution of Congress

On 7 December 2022, Congress was expected to file a motion of censure against President Castillo, accusing him of "permanent moral incapacity".[1] Before the legislative body could gather to file its motion, President Castillo announced the dissolution of Congress and enacted an immedate curfew.[1] In his speech President Castillo stated:[2]

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The following measures are dictated: temporarily dissolve the Congress of the Republic and establish an exceptional emergency government. Elections will be called for a new Congress with constituent powers to elaborate a new Constitution with a term of no more than 9 months, ... Congress without evidence imputes the president for crimes, ... Congress has practically abolished the question of trust leaving the presidential vacancy unscathed due to moral incapacity, that is, Congress has broken the balance of powers and the rule of rights to establish the congressional dictatorship with the endorsement as they themselves express from its Constitutional Court

President Castillo then denounced the media opposed to him and called on individuals possessing illegal weapons to deliver them to the National Police of Peru within 72 hours.[2]

Resignation of Castillo government

Moments after Castillo's speech, multiple ministers resigned from Castillo's government, including Minister of Work Alejandro Salas, Minister of the Economy Kurt Burneo, Minister of Foreign Relations César Landa and Minister of Justice Félix Chero.[2] The attorney representing President Castillo dropped him as a client, stating "As a lawyer respectful of the Constitution, I assumed the defense of the President of the Republic boasting of his innocence. Since there has been a breach of the constitutional order, I am obliged to irrevocably renounce the defense of citizen Pedro Castillo".[2]

Constitutional Court of Peru calls for military intervention

File:2022 Peruvian self-coup d'état attempt armed forces reject Castillo.jpg
Document of the CCFFAA and PNP rejecting the actions of President Castillo

The Constitutional Court of Peru released a statement "No one owes obedience to a usurping government and Mr. Pedro Castillo has made an ineffective coup d'état. The Armed Forces are empowered to restore the constitutional order".[2] In a statement released by the Peruvian Armed Forces, they rejected the actions of President Castillo and called for maintained stability within Peru.[5]

Congress dismisses Castillo

Rejecting President Castillo's actions to dissolve the legislative body, Congress gathered and voted to remove Castillo from office due to "moral incapacity" with 101 votes in favor, 6 against and 10 abstentions.[29] Vice President of Peru Dina Boluarte, who rejected Castillo's actions, was announced to take her oath of office for the presidency at 3:00 PM PET.[29]

Castillo detained

Outside of the Mexican embassy in Lima, some individuals gathered to block the area upon rumors that Castillo was attempting to flee to seek asylum in Mexico.[30] Minutes after leaving the Government Palace, Castillo was detained by authorities.[31][32]

Boluarte sworn in

Castillo's vice president Dina Boluarte entered the Legislative Palace shortly after 3:00 PM PET and appears before Congress, later being sworn in as president of Peru among the legislative body.[33]

Reactions

The United States rejected the actions of President Castillo. U.S. ambassador to Peru Lisa D. Kenna stated "The United States categorically rejects any extraconstitutional act by President Castillo to prevent Congress from fulfilling its mandate. The United States strongly urges President Castillo to reverse his attempt to shut down Congress and allow Peru's democratic institutions to function according to the Constitution. We encourage the Peruvian public to remain calm during this uncertain time."[34]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Castillo, Maria Elena (24 October 2021).Empresarios tranzan acciones contra Pedro Castillo La República. Retrieved 2021-11-24.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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