MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Peru's Judiciary Chief fails to hold appeasement meeting between President, Congress

It is “imperative” to make the necessary efforts to achieve “the solution of the current serious crisis,” Barrios argued

Peru's Chief Justice Elvia Barrios Saturday urged President Pedro Castillo Terrones and Congress Speaker José Williams to promote dialogue between the two branches of government and put an end to the political crisis that the country is going through.

Barrios suggested a session of the Council of State, during which she said she would be present to try to adopt actions to guarantee the governability of the South American country, based on the inter-institutional dialogue and respect for the Constitution. She also mentioned that such a meeting should include representatives of the Comptroller General's Office, the Ombudsman's Office, and the National Justice Board.

Chief Prosecutor Patricia Benavides said she would not be participating. “In view of the convening of a session of the Council of State, the Public Prosecutor's Office informs that the Prosecutor of the Nation will not participate in this meeting, as she is in charge of investigations against the President of the Republic,” a statement from her office said.

The tension between Congress and the Executive increased when then-Prime Minister Aníbal Torres presented a motion of confidence which was rejected, resulting in his resignation and the formation of a new cabinet.

The Government has denounced that right-wing sectors in the Parliament have allied with the Attorney General's Office and the media to push for the removal of President Castillo.

Barrios asked Castillo to convene this meeting “urgently.” She had first suggested the meeting be held Sunday but neither Castillo nor Williams attended.

“We call on the President of the Republic to urgently summon all the powers of the State and constitutionally autonomous bodies to promote a space for dialogue to achieve consensus and minimum agreements to reestablish stability and social peace,” said Barrios, who insisted it was “imperative” to make the necessary efforts to achieve “the solution of the current serious crisis.”

Williams announced he would not attend because such a meeting “deserves previous coordination for the presentation of the proposals agreed with all the instances of Congress.”

Castillo issued no statement in this regard but the Presidency's Twitter account mentioned that “In view of the invitation received in the official letter No. 0001-2022 and as we expressed to the OAS Special Mission, the Government strengthens the sincere and direct dialogue with popular, trade union, union, institutional and political organizations, for the benefit of Peruvians.”