Editing Pedro Castillo

{{Infobox politician|name=Pedro Castillo|birth_date=19 October 1969|birth_place=Puña, Cajamarca, Peru|image=Pedro Castillo.png|image_size=200}}
'''José Pedro Castillo Terrones''' (born 19 October 1969) is a Peruvian schoolteacher, [[Trade union|union]] leader and politician who served as the 63rd President of [[Peru]] from 28 July 2021 until his overthrow by [[United States of America|USA]] and [[Organization of American States|OAS]]-backed forces in December 2022.<ref name=":1">{{Web citation|author=[[Ben Norton]]|newspaper=[[Multipolarista]]|title=Mexico, Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia back Peru’s President Castillo, condemn ‘anti-democratic harassment’|date=2022-12-13|url=https://multipolarista.com/2022/12/13/mexico-argentina-bolivia-colombia-peru-castillo-coup/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221216032444/https://multipolarista.com/2022/12/13/mexico-argentina-bolivia-colombia-peru-castillo-coup/|archive-date=2022-12-16|retrieved=2022-12-16}}</ref> He grew up in an impoverished [[Peasantry|peasant]] family and thus advocates for policies which will help the poor.<ref>https://youtu.be/1-rkjX89DEg [[China Global Television Network|CGTN]] on YouTube</ref><ref>https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/peasant-roots-to-president-the-unlikely-rise-of-perus-pedro-castillo/ar-AAMEyuG</ref> The governments of [[Mexican United States|Mexico]], [[Argentine Republic|Argentina]], [[Plurinational State of Bolivia|Bolivia]], and [[Republic of Colombia|Colombia]] condemned the coup against him.<ref name=":1" />

==Political positions==

===Economic===
Analysts described Castillo as an [[Agrarianism|agrarian]] [[Left-wing politics|leftist]], [[Populism|populist]], and [[socialist]].<ref name=":12">{{Web citation|date=2021-04-18|title=Students' struggles pushed Peru teacher to run for president|url=https://apnews.com/article/latin-america-gardening-coronavirus-pandemic-peru-714133c2227b25bf020adb683b9cc476|url-status=live|retrieved=22 April 2021|website=Associated Press}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Web citation|title=Ecuador gira a la derecha y la ultraizquierda pasa a segunda vuelta en Perú|url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/spa/latinoam%C3%A9rica-elecciones--resumen-_ecuador-gira-a-la-derecha-y-la-ultraizquierda-pasa-a-segunda-vuelta-en-per%C3%BA/46523688|url-status=live|retrieved=13 April 2021|website=EFE|language=es}}</ref><ref name=":22">{{Web citation|last=Puente|first=Javier|date=14 April 2021|title=Who is Peru's Frontrunner Pedro Castillo?|url=https://nacla.org/peru-elections-pedro-castillo|url-status=live|retrieved=17 April 2021|website=North American Congress on Latin America|language=en}}</ref> He has said that he is not a [[communist]] and that he is not a [[Chavismo|Chavista]].<ref>{{Web citation|date=16 June 2021|title='We are not communists': Castillo seeks to allay fears in divided Peru|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/perus-socialist-president-in-waiting-seeks-calm-fears-amid-vote-tension-2021-06-16/|url-status=live|retrieved=16 June 2021|website=Reuters}}</ref> Although he is described as [[far-left]] by multiple international news agencies,<ref>{{Web citation|last1=Quito|first1=Gideon Long in|last2=London|first2=Michael Stott in|title=Far-left activist Castillo leads in Peru presidential election upset|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/far-left-activist-castillo-leads-in-peru-presidential-election-upset-1.4535338|retrieved=18 April 2021|website=The Irish Times|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Web citation|date=14 April 2021|title=Peru's presidential runoff pits far-left teacher against rightwing populist|url=https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20210414-peru-s-presidential-runoff-pits-far-left-teacher-against-rightwing-populist|retrieved=18 April 2021|website=France 24|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Web citation|title=Far left candidate Pedro Castillo leads Peruvian presidential race: Ipsos fast count {{!}} The Star|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/world/2021/04/12/far-left-candidate-pedro-castillo-leads-peruvian-presidential-race-ipsos-fast-count|retrieved=18 April 2021|website=www.thestar.com.my}}</ref><ref>{{Web citation|date=12 April 2021|title=Far-left activist leads in Peru presidential election upset|url=https://www.ft.com/content/d3306d77-05e3-40e0-8695-426bdb81ee11|url-status=live|retrieved=18 April 2021|work=Financial Times}}</ref><ref>{{Web citation|last=Taj|first=Mitra|date=12 April 2021|title=Peru Election for the 5th President in 5 Years Goes to Runoff|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/12/world/americas/peru-Pedro-Castillo.html|retrieved=18 April 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Web citation|last=Dube|first=Kejal Vyas and Ryan|date=13 April 2021|title=Peru Election Pits Fan of Castro Against Authoritarian Ex-Leader's Daughter|language=en-US|work=Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/peru-election-pits-fan-of-castro-against-authoritarian-ex-leaders-daughter-11618338445|retrieved=18 April 2021|issn=0099-9660}}</ref><ref>{{Web citation|date=12 April 2021|title=Far left candidate Pedro Castillo leads Peruvian presidential race – Ipsos fast count|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/far-left-candidate-pedro-castillo-leads-peruvian-presidential-race-ipsos-fast-2021-04-12/|retrieved=18 April 2021|website=Reuters}}</ref> Castillo has distanced himself from the far-left [[Marxist]] faction of the [[Free Peru]] party that chose him as a candidate, stating that "the one who is going to govern is me" and there will be "no [[communism]]" in Peru under his government.<ref name=":202">{{Web citation|date=3 June 2021|title=Buenos Aires Times {{!}} Inequality fuels rural teacher's unlikely bid to upend Peru|url=https://batimes.com.ar/news/latin-america/inequality-fuels-a-rural-teachers-unlikely-bid-to-upend-peru.phtml|url-status=live|retrieved=4 June 2021|website=Buenos Aires Times|publisher=Bloomberg}}</ref><ref name=":152">{{Web citation|date=22 April 2021|title='No Chavismo here': Peru socialist candidate Castillo seeks to calm jittery markets|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/no-chavismo-here-peru-socialist-candidate-castillo-seeks-calm-jittery-markets-2021-04-22/|url-status=live|retrieved=23 April 2021|website=Reuters}}</ref><ref name=":14">{{Web citation|date=22 April 2021|title=Pedro Castillo arremete contra Nicolás Maduro: 'que primero arregle sus problemas internos y que se lleve a sus compatriotas que vinieron a delinquir'|url=https://www.expreso.com.pe/elecciones-2021/pedro-castillo-arremete-contra-nicolas-maduro-si-hay-algo-que-tiene-que-decir-que-primero-arregle-sus-problemas-internos-y-que-se-lleve-a-sus-compatriotas-que-vinieron-a-delinquir/|retrieved=23 April 2021|website=Diario Expreso}}</ref> 

Farid Kahhat of the [[Pontifical Catholic University of Peru]] stated that Castillo has a limited relationship with Free Peru and separated himself from the party's leader, adding that "it is important to remember that Castillo is a candidate but not a party member...we might even say he is more conservative than the ideals of Perú Libre would suggest."<ref name=":192">{{Web citation|last=Allen|first=Nicolas|date=1 June 2021|title=Pedro Castillo Can Help End Neoliberalism in Peru|url=https://jacobinmag.com/2021/06/pedro-castillo-peru-libre-keiko-fujimori-runoff-election-june-6-neoliberalism|url-status=live|retrieved=3 June 2021|website=[[Jacobin (magazine)|Jacobin]]|language=en-US}}</ref> 

He is frequently described as "socially conservative."<ref name="France 24 2021 soc con">{{Web citation|title=Far-left schoolteacher, rightwing populist vie for Peru presidency|website=France 24|date=13 April 2021|url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210413-far-left-schoolteacher-rightwing-populist-vie-for-peru-presidency|retrieved=11 June 2021|quote=Both candidates are socially conservative – opposed to abortion and gay marriage.}}</ref><ref name="Quesada 2021">{{Web citation|last=Quesada|first=Juan Diego|date=10 June 2021|title=Pedro Castillo, the barefoot candidate poised to become the next president of Peru|url=https://english.elpais.com/usa/2021-06-10/pedro-castillo-the-barefoot-candidate-poised-to-become-the-next-president-of-peru.html|url-status=live|retrieved=11 June 2021|website=El País|quote=}}</ref><ref name="Jones 2021">{{Web citation|last=Jones|first=Sam|title=Peru faces poll dilemma: a leftist firebrand or the dictator's daughter?|website=the Guardian|date=5 June 2021|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/05/peru-poll-dilemma-leftist-firebrand-or-dictators-daughter-carlos-davalos|retrieved=11 June 2021|quote=Pedro Castillo, a far-left but socially conservative union leader and teacher}}</ref><ref name="Gimeno 2021">{{Web citation|last=Gimeno|first=Fernando|title=Peru election pits 2 candidates opposed by women's rights, LGBT+ activists|website=La Prensa Latina Media|date=4 June 2021|url=https://www.laprensalatina.com/peru-election-pits-2-candidates-opposed-by-womens-rights-lgbt-activists/|retrieved=11 June 2021|quote=two socially conservative candidates that oppose abortion, same-sex marriage and gender equality-based education.}}</ref><ref name="Tegel 2021">{{Web citation|last=Tegel|first=Simeon|title=Peru is Officially Investigating If Bleach Can Cure Covid|website=VICE|date=14 May 2021|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/4avw7b/peru-is-officially-investigating-if-bleach-can-cure-covid|retrieved=11 June 2021|quote=two autocratic and socially conservative candidates who each routinely flout social distancing at their campaign rallies and appear to have a shaky grasp of the science around the pandemic}}</ref> which will likely be used by Western intelligence agencies to demonize him in the eyes of western progressives, as was done against [[Ecuador]]'s leftist [[Rafael Correa|Correísta]] movement.<ref>https://thegrayzone.com/2021/05/04/ecuador-election-us-pachakutik-lasso-yaku/</ref>

Castillo proposed increasing the education and health budgets to at least ten percent of Peru's GDP.<ref name=":3">{{Web citation|first1=Inés|last1=Santaeulalia|first2=Jacqueline|last2=Fowks|date=12 April 2021|title=Perú se encamina a una lucha por la presidencia entre el radical Pedro Castillo y Keiko Fujimori|url=https://elpais.com/internacional/2021-04-12/el-maestro-de-izquierda-radical-pedro-castillo-se-acerca-a-la-segunda-vuelta-segun-los-primeros-sondeos.html|url-status=live|retrieved=13 April 2021|website=El País|language=es}}</ref><ref name="ges34">{{Web citation|date=7 April 2021|title=Pedro Castillo está en contra del enfoque de género en el currículo escolar|url=https://gestion.pe/peru/politica/pedro-castillo-esta-en-contra-del-enfoque-de-genero-en-el-curriculo-escolar-noticia/|retrieved=12 April 2021|website=Gestion|language=Spanish}}</ref> Castillo believes that [[internet access]] should be a right for all Peruvians.<ref name=":20">{{Web citation|last=Sonneland|first=Holly K.|date=1 June 2021|title=Contrasting Platforms in Peru's Presidential Runoff|url=https://www.as-coa.org/articles/contrasting-platforms-perus-presidential-runoff|url-status=live|retrieved=5 June 2021|website=Americas Society/Council of the Americas|language=en}}</ref> He proposed a science and technology ministry that would immediately be tasked with combating the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] in Peru.<ref name=":203">{{Web citation|last=Sonneland|first=Holly K.|date=2021-06-01|title=Contrasting Platforms in Peru's Presidential Runoff|url=https://www.as-coa.org/articles/contrasting-platforms-perus-presidential-runoff|url-status=live|retrieved=5 June 2021|website=Americas Society/Council of the Americas|language=en}}</ref>

===Social===
Proposed social policies from Castillo include creating [[paramilitary]] groups and militarizing Peruvian youth in order to promote a revolutionary experience, calling for citizens to arm themselves in order to provide justice through "socialist administration."<ref name=":222">{{Web citation|last=Puente|first=Javier|date=14 April 2021|title=Who is Peru's Frontrunner Pedro Castillo?|url=https://nacla.org/peru-elections-pedro-castillo|url-status=live|retrieved=17 April 2021|website=North American Congress on Latin America|language=en}}</ref>

===International===
Castillo defended the government of [[Nicolás Maduro]] in [[Venezuela]], describing it as "a democratic government,"<ref name=":9">{{Web citation|date=12 April 2021|title=Pedro Castillo, el maestro con el que se identifica el otro Perú|url=https://www.france24.com/es/am%C3%A9rica-latina/20210412-perfil-pedro-castillo-elecciones-izquierda-peru|url-status=live|retrieved=13 April 2021|website=France 24}}</ref><ref name=":10">{{Web citation|date=13 April 2021|title=Castillo and Fujimori, rivals vying for Peru's presidency|url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210413-castillo-and-fujimori-rivals-vying-for-peru-s-presidency|url-status=live|retrieved=17 April 2021|website=France 24|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Web citation|date=11 April 2021|title=Pedro Castillo califica de "democrático" el Gobierno de Nicolás Maduro|url=https://exitosanoticias.pe/v1/pedro-castillo-en-venezuela-hay-un-gobierno-que-para-nosotros-es-democratico/|url-status=live|retrieved=13 April 2021|website=Exitosa Noticias|language=es-PE}}</ref> while his Free Peru party has shared praise for the policies of [[Fidel Castro]] and [[Hugo Chávez]].<ref name=":8">{{Web citation|date=11 April 2021|title=Peru Stocks Tumble as Presidential Vote Spooks Investors|language=en|work=[[Bloomberg.com]]|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-04-11/peruvians-vote-for-president-after-months-of-chaos-and-scandal|retrieved=13 April 2021}}</ref>

==Presidency==
Castillo won the 2021 presidential election on 6 June 2021 with 50.13% of the vote. He defeated [[Keiko Fujimori]], the daughter of former [[Neoliberalism|neoliberal]] dictator [[Alberto Fujimori]].<ref name=":0">{{Web citation|author=Manolo De Los Santos|newspaper=[[Liberation News]]|title=Peru’s oligarchy overthrows President Castillo|date=2022-12-08|url=https://www.liberationnews.org/perus-oligarchy-overthrows-president-castillo/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209051459/https://www.liberationnews.org/perus-oligarchy-overthrows-president-castillo/|archive-date=2022-12-09|retrieved=2022-12-09}}</ref> In one of his first acts as President, the Castillo government withdrew Peru from the [[United States of America|US]]-controlled Lima Group, which was created to support [[Juan Guaidó]], in opposition to the government of [[Nicolás Maduro]] in [[Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela|Venezuela]].<ref>{{Web citation|newspaper=[[TeleSur]]|title=Peru to withdraw from the US-controlled Lima Group|date=2021-08-06|url=https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Peru-To-Withdraw-From-the-US-Controlled-Lima-Group-20210806-0009.html|retrieved=2022-12-28}}</ref>

Castillo has appointed [[Guido Bellido]] to the position of Prime Minister, the second most powerful position in government. Bellido is a socialist and a member of the Free Peru party.<ref>https://kawsachunnews.com/pedro-castillo-appoints-socialist-as-prime-minister</ref>

Castillo has warned the gas sector that if they don't pay higher taxes, they might face nationalization.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/peru-pm-warns-gas-sector-pay-higher-taxes-or-face-nationalization-2021-09-26/ Peru PM warns gas sector: pay higher taxes or face nationalization] by Marcelo Rochabrun on Reuters - September 26, 2021</ref> This may have inspired a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] coup, as policies like nationalization threaten the business interests protected by the CIA. 

In April 2022, right-wing protests began in Peru against inflation caused by [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization|NATO]] and [[European Union|EU]] sanctions against [[Russian Federation|Russia]]. The protests resulted in at least nine deaths.<ref>{{News citation|author=Carlos Noriega|date=2022-04-05|title=Castillo ante un escenario de revuelta social|url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/413153-castillo-ante-un-escenario-de-revuelta-social|newspaper=Página 12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405155407/https://www.pagina12.com.ar/413153-castillo-ante-un-escenario-de-revuelta-social|archive-date=2022-04-05|retrieved=2022-04-09}}</ref>

On 6 December, the Minister of Defense Gustavo Bebbio met with Lisa Kenna, a CIA agent acting as ambassador in Peru.<ref>{{Web citation|newspaper=Agencia Andina|title=Ministro de Defensa se reunió con embajadora de los Estados Unidos|date=2022-12-06|url=https://andina.pe/agencia/noticia-ministro-defensa-se-reunio-embajadora-los-estados-unidos-920673.aspx|retrieved=2022-12-28}}</ref> A day after, the Peruvian congress impeached Castillo, and security forces arrested him.<ref>{{Web citation|newspaper=[[Xinhua News Agency]]|title=Peruvian police detain Castillo after congressional impeachment|date=2022-12-08|url=https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-12-08/Peruvian-police-detain-Castillo-after-congressional-impeachment-1fApCkbK78Q/index.html|retrieved=2022-12-07}}</ref> The Peruvian oligarchy installed Dina Boluarte to succeed him.<ref name=":0" /> 

==References ==
<references />
[[Category:Socialists]]
[[Category:Socialist rulers]]
[[Category:Peruvian socialists]]
[[Category:Free Peru politicians]]
[[Category:Peruvian trade unionists]]
[[Category:Targets of regime change operations]]