Peru PM resigns as investigations target President Castillo
Peru's Prime Minister, Anibal Torres, arrives at Congress to seek a confirmation vote, on the same day as lawmakers introduced an impeachment motion to try to oust President Pedro Castillo, in Lima, Peru March 8, 2022. REUTERS/Sebastian Castaneda
Peru's Prime Minister, Anibal Torres, arrives at Congress to seek a confirmation vote, on the same day as lawmakers introduced an impeachment motion to try to oust President Pedro Castillo, in Lima, Peru March 8, 2022. REUTERS/Sebastian Castaneda

(Reuters) – PERUVIAN Prime Minister, Anibal Torres suddenly resigned on Wednesday morning, amid widening criminal probes centred on President Pedro Castillo, who has grown increasingly isolated after one year in office.

Torres said on Twitter his resignation was due to “personal reasons.” A lawyer, Torres was seen as one of Castillo’s most loyal allies.
Castillo has overseen unprecedented turnover in senior government posts during his administration. He will now have to name his fifth Prime Minister since taking office last July, a move that often comes with other government reshuffles.

He is also the target of five criminal investigations, including two that are probing whether he is part of a “criminal organization.”
Peruvian Presidents can be investigated while in office, but cannot be charged.

Castillo came to power last year with a Marxist-Leninist party, spooking investors, but has since taken a pragmatic moderate turn, keeping the key economy ministry in the hands of a technocrat.
He has yet to address the resignation or say when he will name a replacement.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :
Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp
All our printed editions are available online
emblem3
Subscribe to the Guyana Chronicle.
Sign up to receive news and updates.
We respect your privacy.