Hundreds of anti-government protesters on Saturday urged the Congress of Peru, dominated by the right-wing opposition, to remove the leftist president Pedro Castillo, with a view to holding new elections, during a march called in Lima by the former far-right candidate Rafael López Aliaga.
Under the slogan “Vacancy and New Elections! “, the march seeks to pressure the parliament to vote in favor of the admission to debate of a motion presented on Thursday that could lead to the removal of the president by appealing to a constitutional mechanism.
“Democracy or communism” was read on one of the protesters’ banners, a harangue that reflects, according to them, the dilemma Peru faces if Castillo remains in power until he fulfills his mandate in 2026.
Part of the attendees wore T-shirts of the Peruvian soccer team and others in light blue with the inscription Popular Renovation, the ultra-conservative party organizing the protest.
An ultra-rightist strike group, equipped with sticks and wooden shields, staged a brawl with the police in their attempt to reach the Presidential Palace.
The march came to occupy at least five compact blocks in its journey through the avenues of Lima and has been one of the largest carried out in the Peruvian capital in favor of the removal of Castillo since they began four months ago.
Congress is scheduled to discuss the admission to debate of the impeachment request on December 7.
But the admission by the plenary session of the parliament is not guaranteed, since this step requires 40% of votes in favor among the assisting legislators. And to remove a president you need the votes of at least 87 of the 130 congressmen.
The motion was signed by parliamentarians from Advance Country, Popular Force and Popular Renovation, representing a third of Parliament with 43 votes. It is alleged “moral incapacity” of the president to exercise his functions.
Vice President Dina Boluarte described the initiative as a “coup d’état from Congress.”
The possible dismissal of Castillo has been in the air since the day after his election in June, when those three right-wing parties denounced fraud despite the endorsement given to the results by the electoral authorities and observers of the OAS and the European Union.
Castillo is the target of criticism that accuses him of a lack of direction and points to his constant ministerial crises. In 120 days in office, he has changed a dozen ministers and faces divisions in the coalition that backs him.
Disapproval of his management reached 57%, according to an Ipsos poll released on November 14.
Castillo’s victory raised fears in part of Peruvians of a sharp turn toward socialism after decades of liberal policies.
Reference-www.eleconomista.com.mx