The Special Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Peru ruled… Former President Pedro Castillo to 11 years, 5 months and 15 days of actual imprisonment on charges of conspiracy to rebel, connected to his failed attempt to dissolve Congress on December 7, 2022. Meanwhile, they Seven other former officials were chargedAmong them is his former prime minister Betsy ChavezHe has taken refuge in the Mexican embassy in Lima since the beginning of November.
By a split vote, the penalty was decided by Two votes for and one againstUnder the pretext that the then president assumed powers that did not suit him and acted outside the constitutional procedures. Under the ruling it was – Acquittal of charges of abuse of power and disturbance of public order Because there is not enough evidence to support these charges in this judicial case.
From the beginning of the sentence he got Political excommunication for two years He must pay civil compensation of 12,000 soles, as decided by the competent court. The judges considered that the crime was not completely completed, which… Reducing the final amount of the penalty Despite the initial request of the Public Prosecution.
Authoritarians don’t like this
The practice of professional and critical journalism is an essential pillar of democracy. This is why it bothers those who believe they are the bearers of the truth.
The truth is that the rural teacher and union leader who came to power in 2021 listened to the ruling calmly with his lawyer, as official photos of the judiciary show. Based on what was stated, the court indicated that he was arrested red-handed after announcing this Congress dissolved without legal basis During that critical day.
During the trial, former officials, police chiefs and members of their bodyguards testified, describing the orders they received and the conditions of detention. Castillo still faces other corruption investigations.
also, Former Prime Minister Betsy Chavez He was sentenced 11 years, 5 months and 15 days in prison As co-author of the crime of rebellion conspiracy, along with former Prime Minister and head of the Advisory Council, Aníbal Torres. The Supreme Court ordered a new search and arrest, even though Chavez remained at the Mexican diplomatic headquarters while the interim government in Peru, headed by Jose JerryHe has not yet been granted safe passage to travel.
What was the failed attempt to dissolve Congress that ended with the fall of Pedro Castillo?
The failed attempt to dissolve Congress was launched on December 7, 2022, in a climate of extreme political exhaustion for Castillo, who was facing his third presidential vacancy since taking office in 2021. In mid-morning, when Congress He was preparing for a vote on his possible removalThe president appeared in a message to the nation that surprised even those close to him and completely changed the course of the legislative day.
At 11:40, he announced the temporary dissolution of Congress Create a “Emergency government“And the intention to rule by decree law. He justified the measure by saying that he seeks to “re-establish the rule of law” in the face of what he described as a permanent institutional siege. At the same time, he announced the call for elections for a new constituent assembly, which will have The maximum period is nine months To draft a new constitution.
Moreover, he dictated Night curfew He requested the intervention of the judiciary, the Public Prosecutor’s Office and independent organizations.
The announcement sparked a Immediate political outbreak: Ministers from different ministries resigned in a row after the procedure was deemed illegal, and personalities from their private spheres came into public. there, The Armed Forces and the National Police They issued a joint statement declaring that they would not support any order that conflicted with the Constitution, a gesture that left the president without institutional support.
Concurrently, Congress brought forward the session, which was scheduled to take place hours later: 101 upvotesagreed to him Job vacancy due to “permanent moral incompetence”This is a large number that has already been used in other operations against former commanders. The vote, which was held just minutes after the presidential announcement, led to his departure from office.
Immediately after class, Castillo tried to go to Embassy of Mexicowhere he requested political asylum, but he was The police arrested him In the middle of the public road. On the same day, in 3 pmVice President Dina Bolwarti She was sworn in as the new constitutional president of Peru, marking the beginning of a phase that would lead to widespread protests.
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The incident of December 7 put an end to an already overburdened government Internal instability. In just 16 months, Castillo has changed More than 60 ministers He completely restructured his government Five occasionsThis unprecedented rotation weakened his administrative capacity and fueled the perception of institutional chaos.
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