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Peru Court to Decide Fate of Ousted President Pedro Castillo After 2022 Power Grab

A Peruvian court will decide on Thursday whether former president Pedro Castillo will be convicted for attempting to dissolve Congress on December 7, 2022. If found guilty of charges including rebellion and abuse of authority, he faces up to 34 years in prison. The verdict follows recent high-profile sentences and detentions of former leaders, comes after embassy asylum for Castillo's ex-prime minister strained relations with Mexico, and follows protests in 2022 that left at least 50 dead.

02:49 PM, 11/27/2025Politics
Peru Court to Decide Fate of Ousted President Pedro Castillo After 2022 Power Grab

A Peruvian court will hand down its verdict on Thursday in the trial of former president Pedro Castillo, who was impeached and detained the same day he attempted to dissolve Congress on December 7, 2022. If convicted of charges that include rebellion and abuse of authority, Castillo faces up to 34 years in prison.

Background

Castillo, a 56-year-old former rural schoolteacher and trade unionist often described as Peru's "first poor president," had never held elected office before winning the presidency. His decision to try to dissolve the opposition-dominated Congress followed repeated efforts by lawmakers to remove him amid allegations of corruption.

Trial and recent developments

Castillo was impeached and arrested within hours of his attempt to rule by decree and has remained in preventive custody since then, detained at a facility that also holds other former leaders. His nine-month trial saw a dramatic twist this month when his former prime minister, Betssy Chávez—who was also charged—was granted asylum by the Mexican embassy in Lima. Peru severed diplomatic relations with Mexico in response and has publicly suggested it could take further action to detain Chávez.

Wider political context

The verdict arrives one day after another former president, Martín Vizcarra, received a 14-year prison sentence for accepting bribes while serving as a regional governor. Two other ex-presidents, Ollanta Humala (2011–2016) and Alejandro Toledo (2001–2006), are already being held at a special penitentiary for former leaders.

Aftermath and significance

Castillo's removal and arrest ignited large protests in 2022 among his rural, working-class supporters. The security forces' response to those demonstrations resulted in at least 50 deaths, according to official and media reports. His successor, former vice-president Dina Boluarte, governed during a turbulent 22 months marked by a severe security crisis and was herself impeached in October.

Why the verdict matters: The ruling will shape Peru's immediate political future, affect relations with regional neighbors, and underscore the broader crisis of governance and accountability that has enveloped the country's recent administrations.

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