The Organization of American States will hold a special meeting on Thursday on the political crisis in Peru, where President Pedro Castillo is facing multiple investigations that he has denounced as a “coup d’état”.
The embattled Castillo announced late Wednesday that he had sought the regional body’s help to promote a national dialogue to prevent “a serious change in the democratic order in Peru.”
Speaking to the nation live on television, the president said he had asked the 35-member OAS to invoke their “democratic charter,” which spells out the body’s mission to “promote and consolidate representative democracy.”
In doing so, he refers in particular to Article 17, which allows a member state to apply for help “to strengthen and maintain its democratic order” if it fears this will be endangered.
A formal request was submitted to the OAS last week, and the panel said in a statement that a “special meeting” on Peru would be held in Washington on Thursday at 1830 GMT.
Castillo, a former rural school teacher, has come under constant fire since he unexpectedly seized power from Peru’s traditional political elite in last year’s elections.
He has survived two impeachment trials since taking office in July 2021 and is the target of six criminal investigations into alleged bribery and plagiarism of his university work.
In addition, Peru’s attorney general filed a constitutional complaint last week accusing Castillo of leading a criminal organization involving his family and allies.
The complaint — the first of its kind against an incumbent president — is subject to scrutiny by parliament and, unlike a criminal case, could result in Castillo’s suspension. Fewer votes are required than for impeachment.
Castillo, who is serving a five-year term ending in 2026, cannot be prosecuted while in office.
In recent months, police have been searching the presidential palace in Lima, where Castillo resides, as well as his private home in rural Peru, looking for evidence to support the corruption allegations.
Politically weak, Castillo was denied permission by Peru’s far-right Congress in August to attend the inauguration of his left-wing colleague Gustavo Petro in Colombia, and more recently to visit the Vatican and Belgium.
On Wednesday Castillo accused “the money sectors, the traditional politicians who have always benefited from corruption” of being behind the “coup” attempt against him.
“I’m not corrupt,” he said on Twitter.
Peru is no stranger to instability: in 2020 it had three different presidents in five days, and since 2016 it has had five presidents and three legislatures.
But six open investigations into an incumbent president are unprecedented.
The OAS said it will hear a presentation Thursday from Secretary of State Cesar Landa — the fifth in office since Castillo took office.
