The neverending crisis in Peru’s government came to a crunch yesterday as President Pedro Castillo asked Cabinet Chief Guido Bellido for his resignation, triggering a cabinet reshuffle that ended with seven new ministers sworn in late last night. A rift has now been opened with the Perú Libre party that took Mr. Castillo to the presidency just 70 days ago.
Mr. Bellido, a pro-Cuban left-winger, was the face of the most radical faction of the administration, closely aligned with Perú Libre boss Vladimir Cerrón, whom many saw as pulling the strings during the first two months of the Castillo administration. Mr. Bellido will be replaced by Mirtha Vásquez, an environmental, human rights, and feminist activist, who was interim president of Peru’s Congress during Francisco Sagasti’s brief time as head of state (2020-2021).
“This new stage for the government looks to promote dialogue, governability and teamwork,” President Castillo said after the announcement.
Though Ms. Vásquez’s political origins are also on the left, her arrival marks a break between Mr. Castillo and the Marxist Perú Libre party, after multiple clashes over the government’s economic roadmap. There has also been a sustained offensive from the opposition targeting the alleged ties some ministers had with the armed left.
“Perú Libre does not support this new cabinet, because it...
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