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Pedro Castillo

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Revision as of 23:54, 16 July 2023 by Rangerjs1 (talk | contribs) (→‎Presidency: added prison sentence)
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Pedro Castillo
Born19 October 1969
Puña, Cajamarca, Peru

José Pedro Castillo Terrones (born 19 October 1969) is a Peruvian schoolteacher, union leader and politician who served as the 63rd President of Peru from 28 July 2021 until his overthrow by USA and OAS-backed forces in December 2022.[1] He grew up in an impoverished peasant family and thus advocates for policies which will help the poor.[2][3] The governments of Mexico, Argentina, Bolivia, and Colombia condemned the coup against him.[1]

Political positions[edit | edit source]

Economic[edit | edit source]

Analysts described Castillo as an agrarian leftist, populist, and socialist.[4][5][6] He has said that he is not a communist and that he is not a Chavista.[7] Although he is described as far-left by multiple international news agencies,[8][9][10][11][12][13][14] 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.[15][16][17]

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."[18]

He is frequently described as "socially conservative."[19][20][21][22][23] 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 Correísta movement.[24]

Castillo proposed increasing the education and health budgets to at least ten percent of Peru's GDP.[25][26] Castillo believes that internet access should be a right for all Peruvians.[27] He proposed a science and technology ministry that would immediately be tasked with combating the COVID-19 pandemic in Peru.[28]

Social[edit | edit source]

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."[29]

International[edit | edit source]

Castillo defended the government of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela, describing it as "a democratic government,"[30][31][32] while his Free Peru party has shared praise for the policies of Fidel Castro and Hugo Chávez.[33]

Presidency[edit | edit source]

Castillo won the 2021 presidential election on 6 June 2021 with 50.13% of the vote. He defeated Keiko Fujimori, the daughter of former neoliberal dictator Alberto Fujimori.[34] In one of his first acts as President, the Castillo government withdrew Peru from the US-controlled Lima Group, which was created to support Juan Guaidó, in opposition to the government of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela.[35]

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.[36]

Castillo has warned the gas sector that if they don't pay higher taxes, they might face nationalization.[37] This may have inspired a 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 NATO and EU sanctions against Russia. The protests resulted in at least nine deaths.[38]

On 6 December, the Minister of Defense Gustavo Bebbio met with Lisa Kenna, a CIA agent acting as ambassador in Peru.[39] A day after, the Peruvian congress impeached Castillo, and security forces arrested him.[40] He was charged with rebellion and is currently serving 18 months in prison.[41] The Peruvian oligarchy installed Dina Boluarte to succeed him.[34]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ben Norton (2022-12-13). "Mexico, Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia back Peru’s President Castillo, condemn ‘anti-democratic harassment’" Multipolarista. Archived from the original on 2022-12-16. Retrieved 2022-12-16.
  2. ↑ https://youtu.be/1-rkjX89DEg CGTN on YouTube
  3. ↑ https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/peasant-roots-to-president-the-unlikely-rise-of-perus-pedro-castillo/ar-AAMEyuG
  4. ↑ "Students' struggles pushed Peru teacher to run for president" (2021-04-18). Associated Press. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  5. ↑ "Ecuador gira a la derecha y la ultraizquierda pasa a segunda vuelta en Perú". EFE. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  6. ↑ "Who is Peru's Frontrunner Pedro Castillo?" (14 April 2021). North American Congress on Latin America. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  7. ↑ "'We are not communists': Castillo seeks to allay fears in divided Peru" (16 June 2021). Reuters. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  8. ↑ "Far-left activist Castillo leads in Peru presidential election upset". The Irish Times. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  9. ↑ "Peru's presidential runoff pits far-left teacher against rightwing populist" (14 April 2021). France 24. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  10. ↑ "Far left candidate Pedro Castillo leads Peruvian presidential race: Ipsos fast count | The Star". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  11. ↑ "Far-left activist leads in Peru presidential election upset" (12 April 2021). Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  12. ↑ "Peru Election for the 5th President in 5 Years Goes to Runoff" (12 April 2021). Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  13. ↑ "Peru Election Pits Fan of Castro Against Authoritarian Ex-Leader's Daughter" (13 April 2021). Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  14. ↑ "Far left candidate Pedro Castillo leads Peruvian presidential race – Ipsos fast count" (12 April 2021). Reuters. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  15. ↑ "Buenos Aires Times | Inequality fuels rural teacher's unlikely bid to upend Peru" (3 June 2021). Buenos Aires Times. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  16. ↑ "'No Chavismo here': Peru socialist candidate Castillo seeks to calm jittery markets" (22 April 2021). Reuters. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  17. ↑ "Pedro Castillo arremete contra Nicolás Maduro: 'que primero arregle sus problemas internos y que se lleve a sus compatriotas que vinieron a delinquir'" (22 April 2021). Diario Expreso. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  18. ↑ "Pedro Castillo Can Help End Neoliberalism in Peru" (1 June 2021). Jacobin. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  19. ↑
    “Both candidates are socially conservative – opposed to abortion and gay marriage.”

    "Far-left schoolteacher, rightwing populist vie for Peru presidency" (13 April 2021). France 24. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  20. ↑ "Pedro Castillo, the barefoot candidate poised to become the next president of Peru" (10 June 2021). El País. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  21. ↑
    “Pedro Castillo, a far-left but socially conservative union leader and teacher”

    "Peru faces poll dilemma: a leftist firebrand or the dictator's daughter?" (5 June 2021). the Guardian. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  22. ↑
    “two socially conservative candidates that oppose abortion, same-sex marriage and gender equality-based education.”

    "Peru election pits 2 candidates opposed by women's rights, LGBT+ activists" (4 June 2021). La Prensa Latina Media. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  23. ↑
    “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”

    "Peru is Officially Investigating If Bleach Can Cure Covid" (14 May 2021). VICE. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  24. ↑ https://thegrayzone.com/2021/05/04/ecuador-election-us-pachakutik-lasso-yaku/
  25. ↑ "Perú se encamina a una lucha por la presidencia entre el radical Pedro Castillo y Keiko Fujimori" (12 April 2021). El País. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  26. ↑ "Pedro Castillo está en contra del enfoque de género en el currículo escolar" (7 April 2021). Gestion. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  27. ↑ "Contrasting Platforms in Peru's Presidential Runoff" (1 June 2021). Americas Society/Council of the Americas. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  28. ↑ "Contrasting Platforms in Peru's Presidential Runoff" (2021-06-01). Americas Society/Council of the Americas. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  29. ↑ "Who is Peru's Frontrunner Pedro Castillo?" (14 April 2021). North American Congress on Latin America. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  30. ↑ "Pedro Castillo, el maestro con el que se identifica el otro Perú" (12 April 2021). France 24. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  31. ↑ "Castillo and Fujimori, rivals vying for Peru's presidency" (13 April 2021). France 24. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  32. ↑ "Pedro Castillo califica de "democrático" el Gobierno de Nicolás Maduro" (11 April 2021). Exitosa Noticias. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  33. ↑ "Peru Stocks Tumble as Presidential Vote Spooks Investors" (11 April 2021). Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 Manolo De Los Santos (2022-12-08). "Peru’s oligarchy overthrows President Castillo" Liberation News. Archived from the original on 2022-12-09. Retrieved 2022-12-09.
  35. ↑ "Peru to withdraw from the US-controlled Lima Group" (2021-08-06). TeleSur. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  36. ↑ https://kawsachunnews.com/pedro-castillo-appoints-socialist-as-prime-minister
  37. ↑ Peru PM warns gas sector: pay higher taxes or face nationalization by Marcelo Rochabrun on Reuters - September 26, 2021
  38. ↑ Carlos Noriega (2022-04-05). "Castillo ante un escenario de revuelta social" Página 12. Archived from the original on 2022-04-05. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  39. ↑ "Ministro de Defensa se reunió con embajadora de los Estados Unidos" (2022-12-06). Agencia Andina. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  40. ↑ "Peruvian police detain Castillo after congressional impeachment" (2022-12-08). Xinhua News Agency. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
  41. ↑ "Pedro Castillo Claims He Was Victim of a Plot" (2023-07-14). teleSUR. Retrieved 2023-07-16.
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