On the eve of Pedro Castillo’s inauguration, he and his Free Peru Party were politically hit.

The opposition-led coalition won the vote to lead the Peruvian Congress on Monday, which was a setback for the socialists President-elect Pedro Castillo On the eve of his inauguration and a sign challenge Before he plans to reform the constitution and increase mining taxes.

The leadership team led by María del Carmen Alva, a centrist legislator from the People’s Action Party, defeated the ultra-conservative right-wing retired soldier Jorge Montoya by 69 votes to 10. Jorge Montoya).

The list of candidates proposed by Castillo’s Liberal Peru Party was rejected due to procedural issues, highlighting the challenges faced by the outsider elected president in pushing for reforms Fragmented legislature In the absence of any party having a majority.

Alva will be the chairman of the Congress during the 2021-2022 legislative period, and he has the support of Keiko Fujimori’s right-wing People’s Power Party. Narrowly win In the final battle on June 6th, he defeated Castillo with a blade and promised to fight him.

“Congress will ensure the balance of power that the country needs,” Alva said in a speech after the vote, adding that she is open to working with the government “within the framework of respectful dialogue.”

“Let us end the conflict between powers,” she said.

Castillo received strong support from poor rural Peruvians on a platform that promised to redraft the decades-old constitution of the Andean country and drastically raise taxes on copper mining companies to pay for health care and education reforms.

However, the rise of the former teacher and son of a peasant disturbed Peru’s political and business elite, despite Castillo’s measures to distance himself from the region’s far-right regime and bring in more moderate advisors.

On Sunday, Castillo announced a list of candidates to lead Congress. They were selected from allies rather than his own party to support the country’s “governance”. Registered correctly and was rejected.

Castillo, 51, will be sworn in as President in Congress on Wednesday, when Peru will celebrate its 200th anniversary of independence. He is expected to deliver his first speech as president, expounding his government’s plans for 2021-2026.

Military tensions, split parties

Analysts also said that Castillo faces potential friction within his own party and with some factions within the Peruvian Armed Forces because some believe he can politicize the institution.

Two military sources told Reuters that General César Astudillo, the commander of the Peruvian Armed Forces Joint Command, made a request for early resignation over the weekend, confirming local reports that would cause him to leave before the inauguration. .

“In the military, his views on the new government are well-known,” said security expert Pedro Yalanga. “He prefers to step down before the armed forces and police change.”

Astudillo has not publicly commented on the resignation request. Castillo has not yet commented on the possible departure.

The president-elect must also resolve the differences within his Liberal Peru Party. Despite the lack of support from Congress, more ultra-left legislators, including Marxist Party leader Vladimir Theron, have pledged to fight for the new constitution.

“My fellow citizens, the revolution is never carried out in the official parliament. The revolution is carried out in the unofficial parliament, on the streets and in grassroots organizations,” Theron said at the party meeting on Saturday.

The speech ended with a standing ovation from supporters from poorer parts of Peru. “The new constitution or death,” they shouted several times.