Photo: Peruvian President Pedro Castillo addresses a press conference at the Presidential Palace in Lima on Tuesday, October 11, 2022. Source: Martin Mejia / AP.
On Tuesday, Peruvian Attorney General Patricia Benavides filed a constitutional complaint accusing President Pedro Castillo of alleged corruption, influence peddling, and collusion in various cases. “We have found serious evidence of the alleged existence of a criminal organization entrenched in the government palace with the purpose of taking over, controlling, and directing contracting processes to obtain illicit profits,” asserted Benavides in a statement. On Tuesday night President Castillo denied the allegation by calling it “a new type of coup d’etat.”
In the coming days, the Subcommittee on Constitutional Accusations will appoint a congressperson to investigate the case and deliver an initial report, then Castillo will present a defense to Congress. After hearing both sides’ arguments, the Subcommittee will give its final decision, which the wider legislature will vote on—requiring 66 of 130 votes to suspend Castillo’s presidency and file a criminal lawsuit against him before the Supreme Court of Justice. Since his inauguration last year, Castillo has faced six investigations and two impeachment attempts. The current charge also targets former Ministers of Transport and Housing Juan Silva Villegas and Geiner Alvarado López and former manager of Petro Perú, Hugo Chávez.
