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Peru's struggling president marks his first year in office

TUPE, Peru (AP) - In the last town on a road in the Peruvian Andes, María Acevedo has a tiny convenience store but primarily lives off the crops and livestock she raises on her land.

Like many other residents of Tupe, where the indigenous language Jaqaru is still spoken, she voted for school teacher Pedro Castillo for president last year, drawn in part by the possibility of seeing the nation led by someone with rural roots like her own.

That sentiment proved to be shared by many people across Peru, which propelled the political neophyte Castillo to victory in a runoff election that stunned the South American country's political class.

It also buoyed the hopes of many Peruvians that an outsider could bring needed changes to improve public services, including education and health, whose inadequacies were highlighted by the pandemic.

Now, after a year in the presidency, Castillo's popularity is in shambles, decimated by what critics characterize as a chaotic management style and corruption allegations.

Still, in rural areas many voters believe the fault for the executive crisis lies not only with Castillo, but with Congress, which has sought to remove him twice.

'œWe want him to get to five years (in office), to work, to fulfill his promise. Why are they going to throw him out?'ť said Acevedo, dressed in the red-and-black suit typically worn by women in her community. 'œWe want him to learn. Nobody becomes president knowing" what do do.

Acevedo, who is concerned about rising food and fuel prices that have led to regional protests, said the rich in Lima 'œdo not let'ť Castillo work.

Castillo, 52, campaigned with the slogan 'œno more poor in a rich country.'ť He promised to fight corruption, raise taxes on mining profits, rewrite the constitution and end alleged monopolies that affect the prices of domestic gas and medicine.

But he was met by a Congress all too eager to continue the political squabbling that has seen presidents and lawmakers seek to cut short each other's terms.

In 2019, President Martín Vizcarra dissolved Congress and called legislative elections. The following year, the new Congress removed Vizcarra. Manuel Merino was as president appointed by Congress but resigned less than a week later following deadly protests. He was succeeded by Francisco Sagasti, who after nine months handed the post to Castillo on July 28, 2021.

Since then, Congress has approved a commission to investigate allegations of fraud in the presidential election, claims that electoral authorities and independent observers dispute. On two occasions, lawmakers also tried to dismiss Castillo for purported moral incapacity but did not reach the necessary 87 votes to move forward.

Congress also has shelved Castillo's proposed steps for a constitutional reform. But the president himself has not introduced a detailed agricultural overhaul that was among his top campaign promises.

Only about 19% of Peruvians approve of the job being done by Castillo, who defeated Keiko Fujimori in the runoff by about 44,000 votes. But that is higher than the 12% rating for Congress, according to polls by the Institute of Peruvian Studies.

Castillo 'œhas promised many things, such as structural changes. Many people have trusted (him), but acting as president he has many shortcomings, which makes people suspicious,'ť said Arnulfo Casas, a retired teacher who worked for decades in the Amazon region and returned to Tupe to care for his sick wife.

But Casas also isn't happy with Congress.

'œThe parties that have lost do not let (Castillo) work, everything is opposition,'ť said Casas, who runs a juice store. 'œMost of the residents of the mountains and the jungle want Castillo to continue legally.'ť

The lack of achievement is hurting the president, analysts say.

'œIn the various social sectors there are a series of unfulfilled expectations that have generated disappointment and a climate of discontent and exhaustion,'ť said Rodrigo Gil, professor of political science at Antonio Ruiz de Montoya University.

Castillo, at times, has hurt his own image by making mistakes, such as confusing Croatia for Ukraine when talking about Russia's invasion - a slip that drew mockery on social media and criticism by traditional media and politicians.

The president also faces five investigations. Four are looking into allegations of corruption and one is studying claims of plagiarism of his master's thesis in educational psychology that was presented in 2012.

'œSome think that here we are going to give in, even though they mess with your children, with your parents, with your family. In 11 months, they do not find a single piece of evidence,'ť Castillo said recently about the corruption inquiries.

He has said that he did not seek to become president to 'œstick his nails'ť into the public treasury. He says that if he should be found guilty, his father will disinherit him, and he will submit to a type of peasant justice system that punishes cattle thieves with horrible whippings and other physical punishments.

Castillo's lack of experience in public management has shown up in a revolving door among his Cabinet secretaries.

In February, in the midst of a third wave of COVID-19 cases, he replaced a health minister who was promoting vaccination with a doctor who had touted a type of water that supposedly slows aging.

After the spill of thousands of barrels of oil in the Pacific, Castillo replaced the environment minister with an inexperienced geography expert who resigned in just eight days.

Since February, the Ministry of Agriculture has had four secretaries even as Peru grapples with the shortage and rising prices of Russian fertilizers due to the war in Ukraine.

'œIt is a very precarious government, focused on sticking its neck out of the water and breathing day by day to survive,'ť Gil said.

A wall is covered by the Spanish phrase: "No more poor people in a rich country," which was an election campaign slogan used by current President Pedro Castillo, in Tupe, Peru, Tuesday, July 19, 2022. Castillo won the presidency with that slogan, and promises of fighting corruption, raising taxes on mining profits, rewriting the constitution and ending alleged monopolies that affect the prices of domestic gas and medicines. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia) The Associated Press
Rosalbina Valerio, an 83-year-old who tells stories to school children and teaches them the Jaqaru Indigenous language, gives an interview in Tupe, Peru, Tuesday, July 19, 2022. As Peru´s President Pedro Castillo marks the first anniversary of his presidency, his popularity has been decimated by his chaotic management style and corruption allegations, but in rural areas like Tupe, voters believe the fault for the executive crisis lies not only with Castillo, but with Congress, which has sought to remove him twice. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia) The Associated Press
A man walks past a restaurant in Tupe, Peru, Tuesday, July 19, 2022. As Peru´s President Pedro Castillo marks the first anniversary of his presidency, his popularity has been decimated by his chaotic management style and corruption allegations, but in rural areas like Tupe, voters believe the fault for the executive crisis lies not only with Castillo, but with Congress, which has sought to remove him twice. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia) The Associated Press
A woman washes her son's feet before sending him off to school in Tupe, Peru, Tuesday, July 19, 2022. As Peru´s President Pedro Castillo marks the first anniversary of his presidency, his popularity has been decimated by his chaotic management style and corruption allegations, but in rural areas like Tupe, voters believe the fault for the executive crisis lies not only with Castillo, but with Congress, which has sought to remove him twice.(AP Photo/Martin Mejia) The Associated Press
Maria Acevedo speaks during an interview at her restaurant in Tupe, Peru, Tuesday, July 19, 2022. Acevedo, like many other residents of Tupe, where the indigenous language Jaqaru is still spoken, voted for Pedro Castillo for president last year, drawn in part by the possibility of seeing someone with rural roots like her lead the nation. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia) The Associated Press
Dogs play in front of a church in Tupe, Peru, Tuesday, July 19, 2022. As Peru´s President Pedro Castillo marks the first anniversary of his presidency, his popularity has been decimated by his chaotic management style and corruption allegations, but in rural areas like Tupe, voters believe the fault for the executive crisis lies not only with Castillo, but with Congress, which has sought to remove him twice. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia) The Associated Press
A woman milks her cow in Tupe, Peru, Tuesday, July 19, 2022. As Peru´s President Pedro Castillo marks the first anniversary of his presidency, his popularity has been decimated by his chaotic management style and corruption allegations, but in rural areas like Tupe, voters believe the fault for the executive crisis lies not only with Castillo, but with Congress, which has sought to remove him twice. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia) The Associated Press
A girl walks past the school, with its name that reads "House of Awakening" in the Jaqaru Indigenous language, in Tupe, Peru, Tuesday, July 19, 2022. As Peru´s President Pedro Castillo marks the first anniversary of his presidency, his popularity has been decimated by his chaotic management style and corruption allegations, but in rural areas like Tupe, voters believe the fault for the executive crisis lies not only with Castillo, but with Congress, which has sought to remove him twice. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia) The Associated Press
Women talk while combing a girl's hair in Tupe, Peru, Tuesday, July 19, 2022. As Peru´s President Pedro Castillo marks the first anniversary of his presidency, his popularity has been decimated by his chaotic management style and corruption allegations, but in rural areas like Tupe, voters believe the fault for the executive crisis lies not only with Castillo, but with Congress, which has sought to remove him twice. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia) The Associated Press
A woman walks under a sign written in the Jaqaru Indigenous language that says "How did you make it to Tupe?", in Tupe, Peru, Tuesday, July 19, 2022. As Peru´s President Pedro Castillo marks the first anniversary of his presidency, his popularity has been decimated by his chaotic management style and corruption allegations, but in rural areas like Tupe, voters believe the fault for the executive crisis lies not only with Castillo, but with Congress, which has sought to remove him twice. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia) The Associated Press
Girls walk to school in Tupe, Peru, Tuesday, July 19, 2022. As Peru´s President Pedro Castillo marks the first anniversary of his presidency, his popularity has been decimated by his chaotic management style and corruption allegations, but in rural areas like Tupe, voters believe the fault for the executive crisis lies not only with Castillo, but with Congress, which has sought to remove him twice. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia) The Associated Press
A man herds his goats in Tupe, Peru, Tuesday, July 19, 2022. As Peru´s President Pedro Castillo marks the first anniversary of his presidency, his popularity has been decimated by his chaotic management style and corruption allegations, but in rural areas like Tupe, voters believe the fault for the executive crisis lies not only with Castillo, but with Congress, which has sought to remove him twice. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia) The Associated Press
FILE - Free Peru party presidential candidate Pedro Castillo hugs his daughter Alondra who cries for him not to leave home, as he prepares to campaign in Chugur, Peru, April 15, 2021. After a year in office, President Pedro Castillo has seen his poll number fall as his administration has been beset by a myriad of troubles, ranging from accusations of corruption to having parliament attempt to remove him twice from office. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia, File) The Associated Press
FILE - Presidential candidate Pedro Castillo looks out over supporters from the balcony of his campaign headquarters as they celebrate partial results in Lima, Peru, June 7, 2021, the day after the runoff election. Castillo won the presidency with the slogan 'œno more poor in a rich country' and promises of fighting corruption, raising taxes on mining profits, rewriting the constitution and ending alleged monopolies that affect the prices of domestic gas and medicines. (AP Photo/Guadalupe Pardo, File) The Associated Press
FILE - Peru's President Pedro Castillo, right, poses for a photo at the XVI Summit of the Pacific Alliance with leaders, from left, Mexico's Secretary of Finance and Public Credit of Mexico Rogelio Ramirez, Chile's President Sebastian Pinera and Colombia's President Ivan Duque, in Bahia Malaga, Colombia, Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. After a year in office, President Pedro Castillo has seen his poll number fall as his administration has been beset by a myriad of troubles, ranging from accusations of corruption to having parliament attempt to remove him twice from office. (AP Photo/Andres Gonzalez, File) The Associated Press
FILE - Free Peru party presidential candidate Pedro Castillo cooks breakfast for his family in his home in Chugur, Peru, April 16, 2021. After a year in office, President Pedro Castillo has seen his poll number fall as his administration has been beset by a myriad of troubles, ranging from accusations of corruption to having parliament attempt to remove him twice from office. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia, File) The Associated Press
FILE - Peru's President Pedro Castillo and his wife Lilia Paredes, left, greet President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden during the Summit of the Americas, June 8, 2022, in Los Angeles. After a year in office, Castillo has seen his poll number fall as his administration has been beset by a myriad of troubles, ranging from accusations of corruption to having parliament attempt to remove him twice from office. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File) The Associated Press
FILE - Free Peru party presidential candidate Pedro Castillo walks his cows to feed them, as journalists follow behind in Chugur, Peru, April 15, 2021. After a year in office, Peru´s President Pedro Castillo has seen his poll number fall as his administration has been beset by a myriad of troubles, ranging from accusations of corruption to having parliament attempt to remove him twice from office. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia, File) The Associated Press
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