LIMA, 24 July (EFE). – Peru’s president, Pedro Castillo, faces a pivotal week in government when he is offered the remainder of his first year in the executive, but is surrounded by five investigations for corruption by the prosecutor’s office that encourage him Let the opponents propose impeachment against him.
From his first day in office, leftist Pedro Castillo, the former leader of the teachers union, had most of the political class against him in Congress, led by Fuerza Popular, the conservative party of his former electoral rival Keiko Fujimori.
However, to the initial resistance of practically half of Peru’s electorate, serious allegations of alleged corruption were added that the National Prosecutor’s Office is uncovering in five cases documented by the press.
Political analyst Sandro Venturo told Efe: “The crisis we are living in now is a long continuation of the crisis since they formed the government.”
Five revelations against the palace
A few months after the inauguration of his government (2021–2026), Castillo was already facing allegations of involvement in irregularities in the awarding of the Tarta Bridge, in the purchase of biodiesel and pressure to promote the military. Had been.
The press condemned the meetings he allegedly had with businessmen and representatives of beneficiary companies, and even published conversations between him and his closest circle.
Following those complaints, former transport minister Juan Silva, former secretary of Palacio Bruno Pacheco and his nephew Frey Vasquez are fugitives from justice.
The nation’s prosecutor, Patricia Benavides, decided to reopen the investigation that her predecessor had suspended in January, adding to the case the alleged plagiarism of her master’s thesis and alleged obstruction of the search for her former associates.
Venturo drew attention to the fact that “all of his immediate and trusted crew are either fugitives from justice or facing tax scrutiny,” including his wife and niece Yennifer Paredes, whom he raised as his daughter. .
“I think we are living a state of national morale that we were living not so long ago,” said the sociologist.
In Venturo’s opinion, there is a “criminal informality” that has been taking hold of local and regional governments across the country in recent years, linked to serious crimes such as drug trafficking, and which is now in Congress and the Executive. is appearing.
“Criminal informality was taking over territories in Peru and today it has taken over the national government. And not only in government, but in Congress and a large part of the justice system,” Venturo said.
new vacancy threat
Given the allegations against the president, several right-wing and conservative sectors in the legislation have announced a new vacancy motion (impeachment) against Castillo, which will be evaluated in the legislature starting this week.
Glynn Espinoza, a political analyst, told Efe that the corruption allegations against Castillo have been “capitalised” by Congress, which “wanted to oust him” from the beginning of his administration.
“They have generated inputs and are creating doubts in the population as it is not transparent, hiding which creates doubts,” he said.
Last week, Castillo replaced the interior minister for the seventh time, when the previous one created a special police team to support prosecutions in open cases against the president and other high-ranking officials.
However, Espinoza said that if the president is ultimately removed in an “apocalyptic scenario”, Vice President Dina Boluarte will need to “convince the opposition” with the measures he has adopted because “if he retains Castillo’s line”. If you want, they are going to go for that too”.
The dismissal of a final President will not bring stability to the Legislature as it is one of the most discredited powers of the state and a repeat of the 2020 scenario in which the then head of parliament was also sacked after a week of protests, However, it is no longer seen that no leadership gathers.
Monica Martinez
(c) EFE Agency
