Peru's Former Leader Faces Justice: A Tale of Power and Consequences

A former Peruvian president, known for his humble beginnings, has been given a significant prison term. Pedro Castillo, once called the \"president of the poor, \" was sentenced to over 11 years in prison. This was for his attempt to shut down Congress and rule without their approval. Castillo, a former schoolteacher, became president in 2021. He promised to help Peru's poor. But his time in office was short and troubled. He often fought with Congress, which was mostly against him. In December 2022, he tried to dissolve Congress to avoid impeachment. This move backfired. Instead of gaining power, he was impeached and arrested the same day. The court found Castillo guilty of rebellion. However, he was cleared of other charges, like abusing power and causing public disorder. Prosecutors had asked for a much longer sentence, around 34 years. But the court decided on a shorter term. Castillo's trial had some dramatic moments. His former prime minister, Betssy Chávez, was also on trial. She sought asylum in the Mexican embassy, causing tension between Peru and Mexico. Peru even cut diplomatic ties with Mexico over this. Castillo's arrest led to protests in 2022. His supporters, mostly from working-class and rural areas, took to the streets. The protests were met with force, resulting in at least 50 deaths. This shows how divided Peru was during this time. Castillo is not the only former Peruvian president facing legal trouble. Another left-wing ex-president, Martín Vizcarra, was recently sentenced to 14 years for bribery. Two other former presidents, Ollanta Humala and Alejandro Toledo, are also in prison. This raises questions about the political stability and justice system in Peru.