Can Peru sort out its political problems?
The Inquiry
BBC
4.6 • 1.7K Ratings
🗓️ 9 March 2023
⏱️ 24 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
On the 7th December 2022, President Pedro Castillo attempted to dissolve Peru's Congress. His attempted self-coup ended almost as quickly as it began, having been denounced by his own party, the military and the police. He was arrested as he tried to make his way to Mexico, and currently awaits trial.
His running mate and vice president, Dina Boluarte, has assumed power in his stead. However, prior to Castillo’s attempt to gain complete control, Boluarte had already been expelled from the party, after publicly rejecting its ideology, and defected to the opposition. This has left Peruvians angry, especially as she originally intended to see out the rest of the term until 2026.
Thousands of disillusioned Peruvians gathered in protest all over the country, at first demanding the release of Castillo, and latterly, for the resignation of Presidential Boluarte and constitutional reform. They have been met by a fierce and brutal response.
At least 60 Peruvians have lost their lives in the protests, and a further 1000 or more have suffered injury. Still the protests continue. Can Peru sort out its political problems?
Presenter: Charmaine Cozier Producer: Christopher Blake Researcher: John Cossee Editor: Tara McDermott Production Co-ordinator: Brenda Brown
Image: Peru's President Pedro Castillo after his swearing-in ceremony in Lima, Peru, 28 July 2021. (Credit: Reuters/Angela Ponce)
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hi, Namulanta combo here and I'm excited to tell you that my aboard winning |
| 0:05.4 | podcast Dear Daughter is back for a second season and it's available now. Find |
| 0:11.5 | out more at the end of this podcast. Welcome to The Inquiry. I'm Sharma |
| 0:17.8 | Enkhozia each week one question for expert witnesses and an answer. December |
| 0:25.5 | the 7th 2022. A man sits at a desk in front of a television camera. His hand |
| 0:31.9 | shake as he prepares to read from his paper speech. Dressed in a dark suit, his |
| 0:37.0 | red tie and white shirt are the same colours as a flag of his country. Peru. The |
| 0:43.3 | man is president Pedro Castillo. His sudden appearance on state TV comes as |
| 0:49.0 | politicians in Congress prepare a third attempt to vote him out of office. |
| 0:53.6 | During a 10-minute address to the nation he accuses them of obstructing his work then |
| 0:59.3 | comes a surprise announcement. He's going to temporarily dissolve Congress and |
| 1:04.2 | call elections for a new one. Until then an emergency government will take |
| 1:23.0 | over. The declaration also includes a national night curfew. It's widely |
| 1:28.8 | condemned. Within hours Pedro Castillo is arrested and a new president is sworn |
| 1:34.0 | in. The sixth one in five years. More than two months later public anger |
| 1:40.0 | frustration with politicians and politics remain. This week we're asking |
| 1:44.8 | Can Peru sought out its political problems. Part one. Taking to the streets. |
| 1:58.0 | Well the significance of these protests lies on the length that they have been carried out |
| 2:04.8 | over two months now. And also there's the element of escalating violence. |
| 2:15.4 | So far 60 Peruvians have lost their life in the context of the |
| 2:21.9 | demonstrations. 48 of them in clashes with security forces. |
| 2:26.0 | Gleldis Gonzales is a fellow for the Latin America and Caribbean program at International |
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