Live UpdateFrom the Liveblog of Wednesday, December 7, 2022

Peru’s president attempts to dissolve Congress, which turns around and impeaches him

By AP 7 December 2022, 9:10 pm Edit

Peruvian President Pedro Castillo gives a press conference at the presidential palace in Lima, Peru, Oct. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

Peruvian President Pedro Castillo gives a press conference at the presidential palace in Lima, Peru, Oct. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

Peruvian President Pedro Castillo dissolves the nation’s Congress and calls for new legislative elections, but the Congress rejects the decree and votes to replace him with the vice president.

Castillo had tried to beat lawmakers to the punch as they prepared to debate a third attempt to remove him from office. The national ombudsman’s office called it a coup.

Lawmakers then voted 101-6 with 10 abstentions to remove Castillo from office for reasons of “permanent moral incapacity.”