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Lima (AFP) – The dismissed Minister of the Interior, Mariano González, urged the Peruvian Congress on Wednesday to remove President Pedro Castillo from office, considering that he obstructs Justice and protects members of his entourage who are fugitives for alleged corruption.
“I believe that the constitutional succession should take place. Beyond any doubt, questioning about other people, including the vice president, (this) should take place immediately, Congress should take action now,” González said in statements to local radio Peruvian ‘RPP’.
The outgoing minister, who had been in office for 15 days, assured that his surprise dismissal is linked to a decision by Castillo to cover up corruption in the government.
“I have no doubt that this abrupt departure has to do with obstructing the Administration of Justice,” González added.
“I think that for the clarification of the truth and for the country, Mr. (Castillo) should submit to justice,” he said.
González’s complaint unleashed a new political crisis between the government and Congress, dominated by the right, which seeks to call an extraordinary session to remove President Castillo.
In just twelve months, Castillo has already had to face two impeachment votes in the Legislative for alleged moral incapacity to conduct himself in office, according to opposition legislators.
In statements from Panama, the president of Congress, María del Carmen Alva, maintained that González’s statements are serious and show that the president obstructs the work of Justice.
“What was denounced by former Minister Mariano González reveals the Government’s intentions to shield criminal fugitives at all costs. Congress will act within the framework of the Constitution, putting the interests of our country, which is badly hit by the current misgovernment, first,” said the president of Congress.
“The main corruption problem in Peru is in the Government Palace,” he added.
“As soon as the new Board of Directors of Congress is installed (in a week) we will present a vacancy motion,” congressman Jorge Montoya of the right-wing Popular Renovation party told reporters.
“Bad” statements
The Minister of Justice, Félix Chero, described González’s statements as “disastrous”, as well as wrong.
For his part, the chief of staff, Aníbal Torres, replied that the former minister left office because he did not meet expectations regarding citizen insecurity.
“He attended two Councils of Ministers, one of them only for a moment, then he left without giving an explanation,” Torres said at a press conference.
González stated that he learned of his dismissal from a tweet from Castillo on Tuesday night.
The removal occurred hours after the formation of a special Police team was announced to capture three members of the presidential entourage investigated by the Prosecutor’s Office for corruption, who have been on the run since June.
President Castillo, who will be in office for one year this July 28, is also being investigated along with his three former collaborators.
The three fugitives are a former minister of Castillo, a nephew who served as an adviser to the president, and the former secretary of the Peruvian presidency, all members of Castillo’s entourage since the beginning of his government in July 2021.
“I believe that Mr. Castillo is obstructing justice because he is preventing the work of specialized intelligence agents who are looking for the fugitives,” the resigning minister added in his statements.
The Prosecutor’s Office is investigating the Peruvian president in this case for alleged crimes of influence peddling, criminal organization and aggravated collusion involving his political and family environment. However, he cannot bring him to justice as he has immunity as head of state. His term ends in 2026.
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