Understanding the latest accusations against Peru’s president

By Lucas Berti

Peru’s Prosecutor General Patricia Benavides filed a constitutional complaint against President Pedro Castillo on Tuesday, flagging evidence of influence peddling and acts of collusion.

This is the sixth investigation against Mr. Castillo since he took office in July 2021. The complaint now lies with an opposition-led Congress that has already tried to oust the president on two occasions. 

Mr. Castillo denies wrongdoing and decried the complaint as a “new form of coup d’etat.” The president enjoys immunity and cannot be prosecuted while in office, but so-called “constitutional complaints” allow investigators to examine whether crimes were committed while immunity protections remain in place. This would be the first time in Peruvian history that such a mechanism is put to use.

Ms. Benavides’s complaint came alongside another prosecutor’s request to carry out...