Peruvian police detain Castillo after congressional impeachment-Xinhua

Peruvian police detain Castillo after congressional impeachment

Source: Xinhua

Editor: huaxia

2022-12-08 06:13:45

LIMA, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- Peruvian President Pedro Castillo was detained Wednesday afternoon by security forces after unsuccessfully attempting to dissolve Congress, which subsequently voted to impeach him, Peru's National Police (PNP) confirmed.

"Fulfilling our powers and attributes described in Article 5 of D.L n.° 1267 National Police of Peru, the PNP detains President Pedro Castillo," it said in a message on its Twitter account.

It also published a photograph where Castillo can be seen sitting in an armchair at the headquarters of Lima's Second Police Region.

According to local media, after announcing the dissolution of Congress, Castillo left the Government Palace accompanied by family members, including his wife, and former prime minister Anibal Torres.

The National Police rejected the president's decision, considering it a "breach of the constitutional order," and was joined by the Joint Command of the Armed Forces, who said in a statement that it respects "the constitutional order."

Peru's opposition-led Congress approved on Wednesday an impeachment motion against Castillo, with 101 votes in favor, six against and 10 abstentions.