- Former rural teacher faces 34-year sentence for rebellion charges
- December 2022 congressional dissolution attempt triggered nationwide protests with 49 fatalities
- Trial held at police base where Castillo has been detained since arrest
- Separate corruption probe alleges improper military promotions and contract irregularities
- Case draws parallels to Fujimori's 1990s authoritarian power grab
Peru's political landscape faces its most severe test in decades as former President Pedro Castillo stands trial for attempting to dissolve Congress in December 2022. The controversial move, which occurred hours before his planned impeachment, exposed deep fractures between urban elites and rural populations that propelled Castillo to power.
Legal analysts note this marks Peru's first presidential rebellion trial since Alberto Fujimori's 1990 autogolpe. Unlike Fujimori's successful power consolidation, Castillo's hastily announced televised decree collapsed within hours when military leaders refused support. The failed maneuver resulted in immediate congressional impeachment and detention at Lima's Special Operations Directorate base.
Regional instability patterns emerge when comparing Peru's crisis to Brazil's 2016 Dilma Rousseff impeachment. While both involved legislative-executive clashes, Rousseff's removal occurred through constitutional processes without military involvement - contrasting sharply with Castillo's abrupt dissolution attempt. This distinction highlights varying democratic safeguards across South American nations.
Post-ouster protests concentrated in southern Andean regions killed nearly 50 civilians through December 2022-January 2023, per National Human Rights Coordinator reports. The violence underscores lingering tensions between Lima's political establishment and marginalized indigenous communities that viewed Castillo as their first representative in executive power.
President Dina Boluarte's administration now navigates competing demands from center-right legislators and rural protest groups. Recent infrastructure investments in Cusco and Puno signal attempts to address regional disparities fueling Castillo's initial support base.
Legal experts identify three critical trial elements: whether televised declarations constitute criminal rebellion, military chain-of-command responses during crises, and presidential authority limits when facing legislative opposition. The verdict could redefine executive power boundaries in Peru's young democracy.
