Peru plunges in political crisis
Peru once a Spanish colony plunged into a political crisis after lawmakers replaced president Pedro Castillo with vice-president Dina Boluarte. She became Peru's first female president after Castillo tried to create a coup against his own government by shutting down the country's parliament to stop the impeachment motion against him. On Wednesday, the lawmakers when set to begin debating whether Castillo would be impeached or not on the grounds of "Moral Incapacity", then president Castillo started to address his country through television and he dissolved his own parliament to protect his presidential post. But Castillo's attempt failed miserably because his own government, police, and army withdrew their support from his vicious intention and prevent Peruvian democracy from being devoured by authoritarianism.
Pedro Castillo is proven to be the most incompetent President in recent times when Peru is struggling to revive itself after the COVID-19 crisis. Peru is the fastest-growing economy in South America but COVID-19 crippled its economical miracle. That's why Peruvians were protesting against the Castillo government against acute inflation and rampant corruption in his government. The protest occurred amid rising prices of fertilizers and fuel. Castillo's government tried to quell protests against his government by slashing a 30% tax on fuel but fuel companies denied the government's decision and stayed in their predictable price course. Sensing dissension among protesters Castillo declared a one-month state emergency citing a report from its state intelligence department. But on 5th April, the protesters tried to storm the Legislative Palace when he was meeting with congress over the issue of inflation. On 7th April, he meet all the protesting leaders to find a solution to that situation but he failed, later on, that day congress voted on a motion calling for Castillo's resignation, with 61 approving, 43 against, and one abstained. Wednesday's impeachment was not the first time for Castillo that actually was the third time, the first two times he was able to save his government by tricks and sabotaging his own people. His attempt has been condemned by Peru's neighboring countries, Colombia, Brazil, Chile, and Mexico. They explained the situation in Peru as very concerning and attempt to thwart democratic values. The USA also condemned Castillo's attempt to thwart his own government.
After Castillo's resignation, his ministers also resigned from his government and distanced themselves from Castillo's coup attempt. Castillo denied any attempt and he also denied all the charges against him. He became president of the country on a narrow margin last year on a radical manifesto, defeating right-wing candidate "Keiko Fujimori" in a run-off. Castillo's attempt to emulate the conduct of Alberto Fujimori, the authoritarian leader of Peru, was successful because, during that attempt in 1992, the police, the military, and the nation's bureaucracy all supported him. Callisto's attempt dented Peru's image and also damaged the country's economy further. Peru's currency weakens by 2% and its growth has been lowered by a significant margin. Once, The continent's fastest-growing economy with a growth rate of 3.2% now struggling with only 1.4%. Even after Covid's 5th wave in the country, it registered 13.3% growth with an annual rate of growth of 2.4%, but this time every castle has crumbled because of its president's ill-gotten attitude towards his own country.
This is not the first time Peru is facing political difficulties the has been facing political crisis since 2017. The political instability in the Republic of Peru first took place between the government of Pedro Pablo Kuczynski and allied parties against the majority Fujimorist congress. So, Peru has been in political turmoil from time to time because of political differences among political parties and corruption. But the country always stood tall in every adverse situation and it emerged as one of the most formidable economic powerhouses in the South American economy.
0 Comments