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In a televised speech, Peruvian President Pedro Castillo defended his achievements in his first 100 days in power. Castillo made several announcements, including an increase in the minimum wage starting in December and the sale of the presidential plane. Meanwhile, the far-right opposition organized a march in Lima and raised its threats to remove him.
From the main square of Huamanga, the capital of the southern region of Ayacucho, Pedro Castillo flaunted his tenure in his first 100 days as president of Peru, a term that, although short, has been surrounded by multiple political pressures and controversies.
Faced with the attacks by far-right sectors, who this Wednesday called a demonstration in Lima to demand his dismissal, the president reproached his attitude.
“With little shame, a sector tells me that I have not done anything, when in 200 years they dedicated themselves to robbing our country and did nothing for the country. Today they want a peasant to solve the country’s problems in 100 days”, Castillo said.
“Nobody sets the agenda for me. I don’t have bosses. My only boss is the people,” added the president after emphasizing that his government has “a clear course.”
Increase in the minimum wage to about $ 250 per month
To support this idea, Pedro Castillo made several announcements. The most notable is the increase in December by 7.53% of the minimum living wage, reaching 1,000 soles (about $ 250).
Until now, the minimum wage was set at 930 soles (about $ 231.5) since April 2018, when the government of then-President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski approved a 9.41% increase.
If this increase takes place, formal workers will receive 70 soles (about $ 17.50) more each month in their gross compensation.
However, the rise would generate benefits only for a small number of workers, since the country has a high labor informality, estimated at close to 70%.
Like AMLO, Castillo wants to put the presidential plane up for sale
During his speech, the president also announced the sale of the presidential plane, in an action similar to the – until now – ineffective initiative of his Mexican counterpart Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), who has not yet managed to sell his.
But things are different for Castillo, since unlike the modern ship of the Mexican president, the plane of the president of the Andean country is a Boeing 737-528, acquired by former president Alberto Fujimori in 1994.
Before that, the president had announced a bill to prohibit officials from traveling abroad in first class.
Another announcement that surprised the nation is a bill to prohibit anyone formally accused by the Prosecutor’s Office on corruption charges from participating in elections for public office. Currently this is limited to current convictions only.
Castillo congratulates himself on the vaccination plan and economic recovery
Regarding the health situation, Castillo flaunted the vaccination process, which the previous Administration had already put into operation, under the care of former interim president Francisco Sagasti. However, during Castillo’s short tenure it has advanced rapidly.
“When the people’s government began, they had only vaccinated 15% of the population. In 100 days, we have vaccinated almost 60% of the target population. We are protecting the health of Peruvians. Without it, it will not be possible to reactivate the economy and redirect the march of the country, “said Castillo.
The president also highlighted the recovery of the country’s economy, which has a projection for the current year of growth of around 10.5% and that would compensate for the recession of the previous year. However, this high index is part of what is known as the “rebound effect” that occurs after a strong economic contraction, something that Castillo did not mention.
Opposition sectors call for Castillo’s dismissal
Meanwhile, in Lima the opposition demanded during the day the departure of Minister Walter Ayala from the Defense portfolio, involved in a controversy and accused of having pressured Army and Air Force commanders to promote military personnel close to Castillo.
The Castillo government, although short, has been full of turbulence and controversies, such as its decision to appoint former Lima mayor Ricardo Belmont as an advisor, who has been widely criticized for launching macho and homophobic messages on social networks, among others.
A fact that gives dimension to his mandate is the fact that in just 100 days the president has had to change nine ministers and that his cabinet has been reformed twice. These changes have occurred between fractures with the most radical wing of his party, Peru Libre, with which he won the elections.
Polarization has increased around the figure of Castillo between a growing role of far-right movements that are calling for his removal and the followers of the president, who accuse the Congress, dominated by the opposition, of not representing the people.
With EFE
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