Peruvian president expelled at least until Tuesday

Peruvian President Pedro Castillo is in jail until at least Tuesday, the South American country’s Supreme Court ruled. Castillo, 53, impeached yesterday by the Peruvian parliament, was sentenced to seven days in pre-trial detention.

The scheme entered into force retroactively, yesterday counting as the first day. Castillo was accused of, among other things, “rebellion”. He is also investigating to what extent he organized a riot or a conspiracy.

The union leader and former teacher, who has been in power in Peru for a year, tried yesterday to sideline parliament because he wanted to vote on an impeachment procedure against him. Although there was no majority in parliament for that proposal, Castillo wanted to avoid such a procedure at all costs.

But after his attempt to paralyze parliament, that majority was there. No less than 101 MPs voted in favor of impeaching Castillo, against six votes against. The president had to resign for “permanent moral incompetence”, according to the parliament. His ministers also turned against him, as did the Peruvian army.

Hours after the impeachment, federal prosecutors announced that Castillo had been arrested for unconstitutional acts. “No authority can place itself above the constitution,” he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Vice President Dina Boluarte was named as Castillo’s successor. She is the sixth president in six years in Peru, plagued by corruption scandals and economic crisis.

Castillo was also accused of corruption during his relatively short tenure. He himself denies the allegations.