Hello! This is an emergency issue of our newsletter with breaking news from Peru. We explain the biggest institutional crisis the country has faced in decades.
Facing a new impeachment attempt today, President Pedro Castillo of Peru dissolved the country’s opposition-led Congress, announced that he would rule by decree leading a “government of exception,” and called for new parliamentary elections, a constitutional reform, and a “re-organization” of the country’s judiciary.
Opposition leaders, Peruvian media, and even members of Mr. Castillo’s own government described the move as a “coup d’état.”
Lawmakers claimed Mr. Castillo had no legal grounds to proceed with the dissolution of the legislature and decided to carry on with the vote on the motion of vacancy — with 101 of 130 lawmakers voting to remove him from office for “moral incapacity.”
Following the vote, Mr. Castillo was detained.
Primera imagen de Pedro Castillo detenido por la policía. Este es el futuro que le espera a todo aquel que intente imponer una dictadura. pic.twitter.com/WTdrhX56km
— Agustín Antonetti (@agusantonetti) December 7, 2022
Wednesday’s events plunge an already fragile democracy into what is arguably its worst crisis in years. And when it comes to Peruvian politics, that is a high bar to...