Peru: President Pedro Castillo wants to call new elections

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Peru's President Pedro Castillo at the Presidential Palace in Lima

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Martin Mejia/AP

Peru's head of state Pedro Castillo wants to dissolve parliament and hold new elections.

According to consistent reports, Castillo announced this.

The president apparently wants to avoid impeachment.

A corresponding debate in Congress was actually scheduled for Wednesday.

"Congress has destroyed the rule of law, democracy and the balance of government powers," Castillo said.

The opposition spoke of a coup d'etat.

As the Reuters news agency reported, Castillo called an “exceptional government”.

He wanted to govern by decree.

According to the AP news agency, a curfew was ordered for Wednesday night.

Castillo said he would continue to respect the country's economic model while Congress was dissolved.

The left-wing president has been in a power struggle with parliament for months and has already survived two impeachment trials.

Most recently, Congress refused the head of state permission to travel to the Pacific Alliance summit in Mexico.

With that, the meeting collapsed.

Peru has a semi-presidential system of government.

The President directs general government policy and can nominate Prime Ministers, although these must be approved by Congress.

The President can also call new elections for the presidency and Congress.

Castillo has been in office since July 28, 2021.

fek/Reuters/dpa