Those words contrasted with the praise for Vásquez and, above all, with Castillo’s “conciliatory gesture”, which at that same time came from “moderate” opposition parties such as Popular Action and Alliance for Progress, center-right forces with potentially decisive numerical presence in the Congress.
“The change is positive, it is a relief in the midst of chaos,” political analyst Ramiro Escobar told Télam, for whom the new cabinet agrees more with the profile presented by Pedro Castillo on his first international tour, when before the UN, the OAS and economic forums He promised to work for improvements for Peruvians but with respect for the laws and private investment.
“It is a more conciliatory cabinet and can also satisfy a progressive sector,” political scientist Roger Santa Cruz added in an interview with Télam, who, however, considered that the new team is more akin to a “left caviar” (gentrified) that which PL claims to represent, a party that defines itself as Marxist-Leninist and with a marked Andean tone.
The alarms went off on Wednesday when it was announced that Castillo would address a message to the nation and rumors spread that Bellido’s hour was up. Indeed, the president appeared before the cameras, with a portrait of the legendary indigenous leader Túpac Amaru II in the background, and announced the change as a step to reestablish “governability.”
“Peru expects a lot from its authorities. It is time to put Peru above ideologies and from isolated positions ”, he said, after emphasizing that the priority must be the fight for health and against hunger and poverty.
In 69 days as president of the Council of Ministers, Bellido, a 42-year-old electronic engineer who comes from a Quechua-speaking peasant family in the department of Cusco, accumulated a string of clashes with the opposition.
The now former minister not only fought with the parties that are further to the right –Popular Force, Country Advances and Popular Renewal-, but also with the most moderate. Even, in an unusual event, he came into open conflict with some of his subordinates in the Cabinet through social networks.
In this context, rumors have long been circulating about his departure and possible replacements were mentioned – such as Vásquez-, while Peru Libre warned from different platforms that it would not allow Castillo to get rid of the “Puka” (red in Quechua, for the color of his hair and his ideas). But always, until yesterday, he had overcome the attacks, thanks to the support of the founder and leader of the party, Vladimir Cerrón.
“I don’t know what the reason is (why Castillo asked him to resign). It is the motive of the president and the president is the one who commands, “said Bellido at the end of the day, before launching a defiant” see you in Congress, “because he will immediately resume his place in the Legislative Assembly.
Six of 18 portfolio holders also left with Bellido, including Labor, Íber Maraví, of whom it was a fact that he would be dismissed next week by Congress for alleged links with the ultra-left armed group Shining Path.
Vásquez, the new president of the Council of Ministers, is a 46-year-old lawyer who gained fame as a human rights defender and who, after arriving in Congress in 2020 on behalf of the left-wing party Wide Front, ended up as president of that power of the State during the interim government of Francisco Sagasti.
Although at the time the right wing attempted various maneuvers to remove her as president of Congress, Vásquez responded with political skill and gained respect even among her opponents, which surely explains Castillo’s choice for a time of crisis.
“The president opted for political suicide. The extreme right imposed its agenda on him. With the stateless coup there is no negotiation, because sooner rather than later it will strike the blow of hatred and revenge. The coup won and Peru lost, once again the tragedy is repeated ”, reacted instead the alternate spokeswoman for the PL bench, Silvana Robles.
Time will clarify what the new correlation of forces will look like in Congress. There is still no formal break in the ruling party, nor are there clear changes in attitude in a radical opposition that often seems bent on removing Castillo at any cost. It remains to be seen how the moderate opposition moves.
The next measurement will no longer be with the possible censorship of Maraví but at most in a month, when Vásquez and his team will ask the Legislative for a vote of confidence, as required by law.
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