Peru's president ousted after trying to dissolve Congress

LIMA, Peru (AP) — Peru's Congress voted to remove President Pedro Castillo from office Wednesday and replace him with the vice president, shortly after Castillo tried to dissolve the legislature ahead of a scheduled vote to remove him.

The national ombudsman's office called Castillo's attempt to dissolve the Congress a coup.

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

Shortly before the vote, Castillo announced that he was installing a new emergency government and called for the next round of lawmakers to develop a new constitution for the Andean nation. He said during a televised address that he would rule by decree meanwhile, and ordered a nightly curfew starting Wednesday night.

Castillo also announced that he would make changes in the leadership of the judiciary, police and constitutional court. The head of Peru's army then resigned, along with four ministers, including those over foreign affairs and the economy.

Castillo took action as his opponents in Congress moved toward a third attempt to remove him from office.

The Ombudsman's Office, an autonomous government institution, said in a statement before the congressional vote that after years of democracy, Peru is in the midst of a constitutional collapse “that can't be called anything but a coup.”

The office called for Castillo to resign and turn himself in to judicial authorities.

“Mr. Castillo must remember that he was not only elected president of the republic, but also that the people elected representatives for public service,” the statement said. “Castillo's actions ignore the will of the people and are invalid.”

The congressional vote called for Vice President Dina Boluarte to assume the presidency. Boluarte via Twitter...