Presidential impeachment sweeping South America


Peru meeting On November 25, a petition to impeach President Pedro Castillo was filed, supported by political rival Keiko Fujimori and her popular force party.

The Castillo administration has been plagued Scandals and corruption I will charge you since he took office this summer.

The impeachment movement on November 25 made Peru the third country in South America to consider dismissing the president since October.

Faced by Chilean President Lou Piniella impeachment Involved in a suspicious takeover in the House of Representatives on November 9, Pandora Papers Research.

The proceeding was unable to pass the Senate because there was no negative vote on November 16.

In Ecuador, President Guillermo Lasso faced parliament Research Due to tax evasion, it was also revealed in the Pandora Papers. Former presidential candidate Corresmo Andres Alaus has called on Lasso to resign on October 7.

Neither side was happy with Piniella

Patricio Navia, a South American political analyst and professor at the University of New York, told The Epoch Times: “People were dissatisfied with Pinella because of the social unrest in 2019.”

In October 2019, there was widespread protest and anxiety over the announcement of public transport tariff increases in Chile.

Both conservatives and liberals were dissatisfied with how Piniella handled the government’s response to the turmoil.

In response to his decline in approval rates following the 2019 protest, Piniella said, “I understand that Chileans are not happy with what happened. I am not happy either.”

Conservatives felt the president’s reaction Was not effective, And the liberals blamed the use of Excessive power By police against unarmed demonstrators.

As of September of this year, Pinella’s approval rate is 26 percent Because of unmet voter expectations and ineffective policies.

“The Pandora Papers were just an excuse [for impeachment]”Navia said.

Peruvian pandemic fumble

Peru is distinguished from the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which has the highest per capita mortality rate in the world, which has contributed to the confusion surrounding the impeachment of Castillo.

Overall complain Combined with a state-ready pandemic method Economic recovery is slow And government use Low effect China’s Sinopharm vaccine has cast a shadow over the new president.

The CCP virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus, is the pathogen that causes COVID-19.

In between Official reason The reasons for Castillo’s dismissal are listed by parliament as the illegal use of public funds by members of the Peru Libre Party and the appointment of the president of an official currently under investigation for alleged links to terrorism. is.

Similarities between Ecuador and Peru

The similarities shared between Lasso and Castillo are that they represent an escape from the legacy of their stigmatized predecessors.

In Ecuador, Lasso is the first right-wing leader 14 years Symbolizes the departure from corruption And the scandal of former Democratic Socialist President Rafael Correa.

Correa 8 years In a prison for a bribery scandal in September 2020.

In Peru, Castillo was the only leading candidate, with the exception of Keiko Fujimori, the daughter of the controversial former President Alberto Fujimori. Crimes against humanity During his tenure, he is currently serving 25 years in prison.

This idea among voters creates what Navia calls the “rebound effect.”

He emphasized that choosing a presidential candidate from a “less evil” perspective does not lay the foundation for stability in any country.

Undermine democratic values

Apart from being professed Marxist Leninist, Castillo’s first speech as president in July Alone Talking to a small number of indigenous communities left the impression that some Peruvians had little interest in representing the whole country.

This set the tone of what was escalated to his impeachment.

Christopher Martinez, Professor of Political Science in Chile To tellParadoxically, the president’s failure occurs when a leader is forcibly dismissed.

Navia reflects this sentiment, believing that impeachment and protests undermine the logic of basic democratic values, claiming that it is simply a way to avoid polls.

“Democratic values ​​and institutions must be respected,” Navia said.

Lowest Common denominator: Inequality

Peruvian political analyst Alberto Adrianzen explanation His country is divided not only by politics, but also by separation and inequality.

The 20th century solution to this problem in Latin America was land distribution.. Through this method, economically disadvantaged people had the opportunity to become part of the middle class.

Today, educational reform seems to be the equivalent of modern times, Called “Social equalizer” by the National Institute of Educational Evaluation in Mexico.

Inequality and instability in Latin American politics are inextricably linked, much of them due to ongoing trust issues between civilians and their governments. according to For a survey by the Inter-American Development Bank.

Martinez has had one in six South American presidents since 1979. Constitutional term..

Autumn Spredemann

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