Peruvian President Pedro Castillo dissolved the country’s congress and installed an emergency government by decree in a move that his political opponents are calling a coup.
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Peru’s Congress voted to remove President Pedro Castillo from office Wednesday and replace him with the vice president, shortly after Castillo tried to dissolve the legislature ahead of a scheduled vote to remove him. The national ombudsman’s office called Castillo’s attempt to dissolve the Congress a coup. Lawmakers then voted 101-6 with 10 abstentions to remove Castillo from office for reasons of “permanent moral incapacity.”
Shortly before the vote, Castillo announced that he was installing a new emergency government and called for the next round of lawmakers to develop a new constitution for the Andean nation. He said during a televised address that he would rule by decree meanwhile, and ordered a nightly curfew starting Wednesday night.
Castillo also announced that he would make changes in the leadership of the judiciary, police and constitutional court. The head of Peru’s army then resigned, along with four ministers, including those over foreign affairs and the economy. Castillo took action as his opponents in Congress moved toward a third attempt to remove him from office.
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