ConnorChandler t1_j6m4n1r wrote on January 31, 2023 at 8:18 AM

Reply to comment by lukfrom in Peru tourism industry in 'free fall' as Machu Picchu closed by protests by DoremusJessup

It's complicated, it's a fight between the upper class Lima born Peruvians who are sick of the constant political instability and the poor indigenous people of Peru's south who have been disenfranchised for years, finally have a champion who was one of them in Castillo only for him to be held down by the majority conservative Congress to the point he had to launch a self coup just to get his policies across.

Blazin_Rathalos t1_j6mfg3g wrote on January 31, 2023 at 10:52 AM

"Had to launch a coup" is the seriously questionable part of that.

ConnorChandler t1_j6mgqcl wrote on January 31, 2023 at 11:09 AM

At the time of his attempt Castillo had already faced 2 impeachment attempts and the 3rd led by the powerful Congress specifically the allies of Keiko Fujimori were gearing up for 1 more but lacked the support. Probably when Castillo realized he will never be able to accomplish anything without removing a Congress who clearly hates him

Blazin_Rathalos t1_j6mhems wrote on January 31, 2023 at 11:18 AM

Yeah, but it's still an elected congress, right? What he "had" to do is recognize he does not have the support he needs to the things he wants and try to make the best of the situation. Not break the system to remove opposition.

But I'm just an outsider, so there could be more I'm missing.

ConnorChandler t1_j6n3rxp wrote on January 31, 2023 at 2:42 PM

And he is the duly elected president, defeating the Fujinomorista's candidate. However, Congress under Peruvian Constitution has immense power, even more so that the president, and very little check and balance against them. It's impossible to play nice with Congress who not only hates you but actively tries to remove you 3 times.

Blazin_Rathalos t1_j6n4x8c wrote on January 31, 2023 at 2:50 PM

I still feel like the answer here is "actually win the elections for congress".

This is coming from a person who lives in a country that does not even have a directly elected president, but: having a congress/parliament that is more powerful than a president is not particularly strange or rare. It just means presidential elections are less important than some people apparently believed.

ConnorChandler t1_j6n5doa wrote on January 31, 2023 at 2:53 PM

Hence the protests. People are tired of the same conservatives running congress and perpetuating the eternal cycle of corruption, and want drastic change. Hell they're asking for a constituent assembly to rewrite their Constitution that's how desperate they've become. The current government has labeled the protesters terrorists, ensuring the police has carte blanche to open fire. This will only get worse before it gets better