The president of Peru, Pedro Castillo, decided this Wednesday to temporarily dissolve Congress and establish a national emergency government, hours before Parliament debated a vacancy motion (removal) against him that could have removed him from the head of state, decision described as a ‘coup d’état’ by resigning government officials.
“The following measures are issued: Temporarily dissolve the Congress of the Republic and establish an exceptional emergency government,” Castillo said in a message to the nation that was not previously announced by his communications team or on his social networks.
What Pedro Castillo said in his message to the Peruvians
- Call early parliamentary elections
- Temporarily dissolve Congress.
- Call for elections of a constituent Congress.
- Government based on decree law until there is a new Constitution.
- Nationwide curfew from 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m.
- Reorganization of the Judiciary and other judicial bodies.
- Confiscation of weapons in possession of civilians.
With an evident trembling in his hands, he announced that he also dictates “to call in the shortest term elections for a new Congress with constituent powers to elaborate a new Constitution in a period not exceeding 9 months.”
He also ordered a nationwide curfew starting this Wednesday from 10:00 p.m. local time (3:00 GMT on Thursday).
“The judicial system, the Judiciary, the Public Ministry, the National Board of Justice (JNJ) and the Constitutional Court (TC) are declared in reorganization,” he added.
Castillo added that “all those who possess illegal weapons must turn them in to the National Police within 72 hours” and that “whoever does not do so commits a crime punishable by imprisonment that will be established in the respective decree law.”
“The economic model based on a social market economy will be scrupulously respected,” said the president. “Private property is respected and guaranteed.”
It also ruled that the National Police, “with the help of the Armed Forces, will dedicate their efforts to combat crime, corruption and drug trafficking, for which purpose they will be provided with the necessary resources.”
Finally, he called on all civil society institutions, peasant rounds (self-defense groups strengthened during the internal armed conflict) “and all social sectors” to come out to defend these measures.
He indicated that he will communicate this decision to the Organization of American States (OAS).
Defender resigns
Castillo’s defense lawyer before the motion of Congress to dismiss him, after learning of the announcement of the state of emergency in Peru, announced his resignation from the defense of the current president. (YO)
As a lawyer respectful of the Constitution, I assumed the defense of the President of the Republic, presuming his innocence. As there has been a rupture in the constitutional order, I am obliged to irrevocably renounce the defense of citizen Pedro Castillo.
— Benji Espinoza Ramos (@BenjiEspinozaR) December 7, 2022
Source: Eluniverso
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