Boluarte becomes Peru's first ever female president after Castillo's ouster

Peruvian politician Dina Boluarte has been sworn in as interim president, hours after Pedro Castillo was removed in an impeachment trial and arrested during a day of high political drama in the Andean nation.

Boluarte, elevated from vice president, becomes Peru's first ever female president, following Castillo's attempt on Wednesday to dissolve the legislature by decree to avoid the impeachment vote, which sparked a wave of resignations by ministers and criticism from allies. 

Boluarte, 60, said during a session of Congress that she was taking office "in accordance with the Constitution of Peru, from now until July 26, 2026". That's when Castillo's term would have ended.

Castillo was transferred to the Barbadillo prison on Wednesday night in the capital Lima’s Ate district after hours of his arrest. 

Castillo dissolved the nation's Congress and called for new legislative elections, but Congress rejected the decree and voted to replace him with the vice president.

In a televised message to the nation, the embattled leader announced he was "temporarily dissolving Congress... and installing an exceptional emergency government."

"In response to the clamour from citizens throughout the country, we make the decision to establish an emergency government aimed at restoring the rule of law and democracy," Castillo said in a speech.

He said he would convene a new Congress "as soon as possible to draft a new Constitution within a period of no more than nine months."

"From this date and until the new Congress is established, the country will be governed by executive order. A national curfew is decreed as of today from 10:00 pm to 4:00 am," said the president, wearing a blue suit and presidential sash.

He also declared the "reorganisation of the justice system, the judiciary power of the public ministry, the national board of justice and the constitutional court."

The announcement came several hours before Congress was to debate its third impeachment motion against Castillo since his election in July 2021.

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'Coup d'etat'

In defiance of the president's order, Congress backed his removal with 101 votes in favour, six against and 10 abstentions.

Castillo was later arrested, prosecutors said.

Castillo "is a detainee," said Marita Barreto, coordinator of a team of prosecutors dealing with government corruption.

Tensions have been rising between Castillo's leftist administration and Congress, which is largely in the hands of right-wing parties.

Boluarte denounced the president's declaration as a "coup d'etat".

"I reject Pedro Castillo's decision to break the constitutional order by dissolving Congress. It is a coup d'etat that aggravates the political and institutional crisis" in the country, Boluarte wrote on Twitter.

Meanwhile, Economy Minister and Foreign Minister Cesar Landa announced his irrevocable resignation, saying the move violated the constitution.

The South American country lives in a constant political confrontation between the two powers, and has including Castillo had five acting presidents since 2016, due to dismissals and resignations.

The last impeachment attempt, which unfolded in March, only obtained 55 votes. A previous one in December 2021 never gained the votes for a formal debate in Congress.

In 2019, ex-president Martin Vizcarra also dissolved Congress but was later impeached in 2020. Three decades ago, former president Alberto Fujimori, currently in prison for human rights abuses and corruption, also announced the dissolution of Congress.

READ MORE: Peru's Congress approves motion to begin President Castillo's impeachment