Former Peruvian president Pedro Castillo’s defense team held a press conference in Lima on Wednesday, denouncing his dismissal as “unconstitutional” and claiming that there has been a state “plot” against him since he won the elections in 2021. Castillo’s lawyer, Guillermo Olivera, stated that the plot began on June 6, 2021, when Castillo won the elections and his rival Keiko Fujimori alleged electoral fraud. Olivera further explained that state powers such as Congress and the National Prosecutor’s Office have been trying to remove Castillo from office, leading to various constitutional complaints and attempts to vacate his position throughout his term.
Olivera specifically criticized the vacancy motion that Congress pronounced against Castillo after his attempted coup on December 7, stating that it did not follow constitutional procedures. He also highlighted that the current president, Dina Boluarte, was sworn in before the vacancy had been published in the official newspaper El Peruano, as required by law. According to Olivera, this violation of due process means that Castillo’s dismissal is not effective, and he should continue as the ruler.
The defense team also raised concerns about the lack of summons from the justice system for Castillo and his legal defense to testify about the events of December 7. They argued that this violates the former president’s rights, especially considering that he has been in pretrial detention since then.
A virtual hearing is scheduled for Friday, during which the Third Constitutional Chamber of Lima will evaluate Castillo’s amparo lawsuit. Castillo seeks to annul the resolution of Congress that ordered his vacancy due to permanent moral incapacity. Olivera expressed his preference for an in-person hearing, citing concerns about corruption in virtual proceedings. He argued that since the pandemic has ended, it no longer makes sense for the hearing to be conducted digitally.
Castillo is currently serving 18 months in pretrial detention for alleged crimes of rebellion and conspiracy. He was dismissed by Congress on December 7 after announcing his intention to dissolve the Legislature, govern by decree, and intervene in the Judiciary in a televised message. In March, the Judiciary issued another 36-month preventive detention order against him, accusing him of leading a criminal organization within the Peruvian Executive.
Recently, Castillo’s lawyer Walter Ayala, who served as Minister of Defense in the Castillo Government, announced on Twitter that he had left the legal representation of the ex-president in an amparo process seeking his reinstatement in office. The process was initiated in January, arguing that Congress failed to comply with legal procedures when dismissing Castillo.
In recent months, Castillo has repeatedly appealed to the Judiciary, seeking to annul his preventive detention and the rebellion process against him. He claims a violation of his right to political impeachment, a process overseen by Congress, with which he had a contentious relationship during his administration.
(c) EFE Agency
Ning evidence against Castillo, as well as the alleged political motivations behind the accusations. They emphasized that Castillo’s presidency was marked by a commitment to social justice and tackling corruption, which they believe is the real reason for his removal.
The defense team of former Peruvian president Pedro Castillo held a press conference in Lima on Wednesday, where they denounced his dismissal as “unconstitutional” and alleged a state “plot” against him since his election in 2021. Guillermo Olivera, Castillo’s lawyer, stated that this plot began on June 6, 2021, when Castillo won the elections and his rival Keiko Fujimori accused him of electoral fraud.
Olivera further explained that state institutions such as Congress and the National Prosecutor’s Office have been attempting to remove Castillo from office, resulting in numerous constitutional complaints and efforts to vacate his position throughout his term.
In particular, Olivera criticized the vacancy motion issued by Congress after Castillo’s attempted coup on December 7, arguing that it did not follow constitutional procedures. He also pointed out that the current president, Dina Boluarte, was sworn in before the vacancy had been published in the official newspaper El Peruano, as required by law. According to Olivera, this violation of due process renders Castillo’s dismissal ineffective, and he should remain in power.
The defense team also expressed concerns about the lack of summo
The alleged state plot and legal battle surrounding the unconstitutional dismissal of Peruvian President Pedro Castillo is a troubling indication of political turmoil and power struggles. The fight for reinstatement highlights the importance of upholding constitutional principles and ensuring a fair and transparent judicial process.