Pedro Castillo, the former president of Peru, has been hospitalized after a four-day hunger strike protesting his imprisonment on corruption charges. Currently on trial for attempting to dissolve Congress to avoid impeachment, Castillo has been in preventive custody since December 2022. Prosecutors are seeking a 34-year prison sentence against him, amidst ongoing political turbulence in Peru.
Pedro Castillo, the former president of Peru, who was ousted and replaced by Vice President Dina Boluarte in 2022, has been hospitalized after four days of a hunger strike. This strike commenced as part of Castillo’s protest against his perceived “unjust, arbitrary” imprisonment while he is on trial for attempting to dissolve Congress to evade impeachment on allegations of corruption. Having been in preventive custody since December 2022, Castillo’s health deteriorated, necessitating his hospitalization; however, the presiding judge, Norma Carbajal, reported that he remains stable and out of danger.
Castillo, an ex-schoolteacher and claimed to be Peru’s “first poor president,” faced substantial political challenges after assuming office in July 2021, including immediate investigations into corruption allegations, which he deemed politically motivated. During his tenure, he survived two impeachment attempts and became embroiled in a third that led him to attempt to dissolve Congress in a bid to rule by decree. As he attempted to reach the Mexican Embassy in Lima with his family, he was arrested instead.
In his trial, prosecutors are seeking a 34-year prison sentence based on charges of rebellion and abuse of authority. Alongside Castillo, three former ministers, a presidential adviser, and three police officials are also facing trial, marking Castillo’s case as the fourth of a former Peruvian president to be subject to judicial proceedings in the past 25 years.
In conclusion, Pedro Castillo’s situation highlights the turbulent political landscape in Peru, marked by a significant shift following his ousting and the subsequent rise of Vice President Dina Boluarte. His hunger strike reflects his ongoing protests against judicial actions he perceives as unjust, while the legal proceedings highlight broader issues of political corruption and instability within the nation. The outcome of his trial remains critical, with the imposition of a potential lengthy prison sentence hanging in the balance as political tensions continue to escalate.
Original Source: today.rtl.lu
