Peru’s Vice President Dina Boluarte has taken over as head of state after President Pedro Castillo sparked a political crisis by attempting to dissolve Congress in what the Constitutional Court described as a coup d’état.
After President Pedro Castillo announced that he would dissolve parliament, MPs turned the tables: MPs voted to remove the head of state. 101 members of Congress voted in favor of the motion of no confidence, six against and ten abstained. In this case, the constitution provides for Vice President Dina Boluarte to take over the duties. That has now happened: Congress sworn in Boluarte as Peru’s new president on Wednesday during a ceremony in Lima. She will be the sixth head of state in the politically unstable country since early 2018 and the first woman to head Peru.
In her inaugural speech after a day of intense political drama, Boluarte said she would seek a national unity government and vowed to fight the “shameful corruption” plaguing the country. She condemned Castillo’s previous attempt to dissolve parliament. “I accept the office of President of the Republic because I am aware of the responsibility that is placed on me,” said Boluarte in her speech.
Since taking office a year and a half ago, Castillo has survived two impeachment trials. Shortly before the vote, Castillo announced the dissolution of Congress and a new parliamentary election. He imposed a night curfew and said he wanted to temporarily rule with decrees. “Congress has destroyed the rule of law, democracy and the balance between state powers,” Castillo said. Numerous ministers and the opposition, along with Vice President Boluarte, condemned the dissolution of the congress as a coup d’état.
The government of left-wing politician Castillo found itself in a permanent power struggle with parliament. Most recently, Congress refused the head of state permission to travel to the Pacific Alliance summit in Mexico, thereby canceling the meeting. Two of Castillo’s predecessors had been removed from office in similar proceedings.