Dina Boluarte expresses her thanks after she is sworn in as the country's new president in Lima, Peru, December 7, 2022. /CFP
Dina Boluarte expresses her thanks after she is sworn in as the country's new president in Lima, Peru, December 7, 2022. /CFP
Peru's Congress on Wednesday swore in Vice President Dina Boluarte as the country's new president, complying with the line of succession, after voting to impeach Pedro Castillo for alleged "permanent moral incapacity."
Boluarte was sworn in as president through 2026, making her the first woman to lead Peru.
Former President Castillo was detained Wednesday afternoon by security forces hours after his unsuccessful attempt to stay in power by trying to dissolve Congress, which subsequently voted to impeach him.
Castillo's early attempt had sparked resignations by his ministers amid angry accusations from both opposition politicians and his allies that he was attempting a coup.
After the swearing-in, Boluarte called for a political truce to overcome the crisis and said a new cabinet inclusive of all political stripes would be formed.
She also lambasted Castillo's move to dissolve Congress as an "attempted coup."
Peru has gone through years of political turmoil, with multiple leaders accused of corruption, frequent impeachment attempts, and presidential terms cut short.
Castillo had survived two previous attempts to impeach him since he began his term in July 2021.
(With input from agencies)