Pedro Castillo faces a new crisis and decrees a state of emergency in Lima

The political crisis in Peru has a new chapter that deepens the management difficulties of Pedro Castillo. The president decreed state of emergency in Lima and Callao, the neighboring port city, as a result of protests by farmers and the National Union of Carriers and the National Confederation of Carriers. The two main urban centers of the country are paralyzed and its inhabitants, many of them immersed in the circuit of the informal economyThey did not find buses or taxis to get around. Only those Peruvians who work in essential state services were allowed to leave their homes.

Each step that Castillo takes, finds its corresponding obstacle and a shower of criticism from different sectors that deepen the deterioration of his image. Before he began to govern this measure, that the Ombudsman has described as “unconstitutional” considering that it is not designed “to contain social conflicts”, almost 70% of the population disapproved of the performance of the left-wing rural teacher.

“Lack of ability to control the strikesaid the newspaper Peru 21. “The social chaos it becomes clear before a Government that continues without a compass, lost between corruption scandals and a cabinet, which neither in the shadows nor in the light of day manages to find a footing”. The RepublicCastillo has given the “worst response” possible to the new crisis. “We need to strengthen the democratic mechanisms to overcome the crisis that is knocking at our door. There is no room for any truce or new term granted to the current government. Either govern and resolve within the law or step aside because he didn’t know how to measure up”.

The president of Congress, María del Carmen Alva, guaranteed the functioning of the legislature despite the “extreme” limitations that have been in force since Monday night. She assured that Parliament “will help” Castillo to solve the problems this time. It is not a minor gesture, in principle. Twice since December, the president has prevented passage of a motion of censure for “moral incapacity”.

Curiously, the former admiral and legislator of the right-wing Renovación Popular, Jorge Montoya, one of the most vehement promoters of the political trial against the president, emerged on Tuesday morning as one of the most ardent defenders of the state of emergency. “The measure is very harsh, very drastic and it has been because the information that is available, at least that has reached my ears, is that today they thought to loot Limacome down from the hills to loot the city, not only here but in different parts of the country, but the capital is an emblematic site and it must be protected”. Poverty in Peru affects 30% of the population.

Castillo took office on July 28 after defeating in the second round and by a few thousand votes Keiko fujimori. Since then she had no rest, to the point of having changed four times his team of ministers The present conflict has not surprised specialists. During his electoral campaign, the rural teacher had promised public policies aimed at strengthening family farming and benefits for the transport sector, which has complained for years about the high prices of road tolls or insecurity. Both sectors resolved to initiate forceful measures so that the Government fulfills its promise to the electorate.

The storm fronts multiply for Castillo. The prosecution is investigating him for alleged influence peddling. As if that were not enough, two of his nephews and the former secretary general of the presidency carry arrest warrants on their backs. A recent survey by the Center for Peruvian Studies shows that 71% of those interviewed He does not foresee that the president will conclude his term of government. The possibility that, sooner rather than later, Congress will return to the charge to remove him is in the air.