Hours after lawmakers hesitantly agreed to support a proposal to move elections forward in an effort to quell protests that started after the impeachment of Boluarte’s predecessor, Peru’s incoming president, Dina Boluarte, announced a partial cabinet reshuffle.
Alberto Otarola, a lawyer, was appointed as Peru’s next prime minister by Boluarte on Wednesday during a ceremony at the presidential mansion. New defense and interior ministries were also announced by her.
Both Alex Contreras and Oscar Vera will continue in their roles as ministers of the economy and energy, respectively.
The adjustments were made two weeks after Peru’s opposition-led Congress decided to impeach President Pedro Castillo for the third time during his precarious rule.
Castillo had announced plans to dissolve the legislature and rule by decree just prior to his impeachment, a move that was roundly criticized as being unconstitutional. After his dismissal, Boluarte, Castillo’s vice president, was sworn in.
Castillo has a lot of support in rural areas of Peru, therefore his removal, along with his subsequent arrest and confinement in custody pending trial on charges of insurrection and conspiracy, has sparked protests and blockades there.
The dissolution of Congress, which has an overwhelmingly negative approval rating, the release of the previous president, quick early elections, Boluarte’s resignation, and other demands have been made by the demonstrators.
The idea to move the presidential and congressional elections to April 2024 was endorsed by Boluarte, and it was adopted by Peruvian lawmakers on Tuesday night. They had been scheduled for 2026 initially.
The proposal, which would amend Peru’s constitution by adding a new article, needs to be approved by a second two-thirds majority during the following regular legislative session in order to become law.
Boluarte pleaded with lawmakers over the weekend to pay attention to Peruvians’ call for early elections by saying, “Don’t be blind.” “Look at the people and respond to what they are requesting.”
In an effort to quell the turmoil, which has left at least 21 people dead and hundreds injured, Boluarte’s administration also declared a 30-day national state of emergency last week. International observers and human rights organizations have criticized the Peruvian government’s response to the protests and called for restraint.
With other left-wing figures in the area, most notably Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who has come out in support of Castillo, there are growing tensions as Boluarte attempts to restore order.
In response to Lopez Obrador’s alleged persistent and “unacceptable intervention” in Peru’s internal affairs, Peru on Tuesday said it was removing Mexico’s ambassador and giving him 72 hours to depart.
Peru’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement saying, “The words by the Mexican president are extremely grave considering the violence in our nation, which is incompatible with the fundamental right of every individual to protest peacefully.”
The following day, AMLO, the president of Mexico, declared that his country will not sever ties with Peru. He assured reporters, “We are not going to remove anybody.”
After Mexican officials said they would offer Castillo’s family members asylum, a diplomatic row erupted.
After being impeached on December 7, AMLO said that the former president of Peru attempted to seek asylum in the Mexican embassy in Lima, but Castillo was apprehended before he could get there.
A picture of Castillo’s wife, Lilia Paredes, and his children, who had just arrived from Lima, was shared on Twitter by the country’s foreign minister on Wednesday morning.
Castillo, who has been held without charge for 18 months, was also told by AMLO that Mexico’s “doors are open.” The charges against him have been dismissed by him.
