Peruvian President Pedro Castillo dissolved parliament
© APA / Presidency of Peru
Peru’s judiciary has held President Pedro Castillo, who was impeached by parliament over an alleged coup attempt — for an initially limited period until Tuesday. The Supreme Court announced this after a hearing Thursday via Twitter. Accordingly, Castillo is being investigated on suspicion of mutiny and conspiracy.
At the hearing, the former head of state gave simple yes-or-no answers. His lawyer, former justice and government minister Anibal Torres, argued that Castillo was arbitrarily ousted from the presidency.
The attorney general of the South American country accuses Castillo of attacking the constitutional order. Prosecutor Marco Huamann argued at the hearing that the detention was necessary to determine who else was involved in the alleged rebellion and to prevent Castillo from fleeing to another country.
By dissolving the congress, the left-wing politician wanted to prevent a vote of no confidence in parliament – but both his government and the opposition sensed a coup and allowed the former village school teacher to appear.
Castillo was arrested on Wednesday. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said the next day that he wanted asylum at the Mexican Embassy. The government of Mexico was open to granting asylum to the deposed president. Meanwhile, former Vice President Dina Boulwart has been sworn in as the first head of state in the South American country.
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