Peru’s Castillo faces major challenges as presidency begins

A coronavirus crisis, deep divisions and political instability mark the start of Pedro Castillo’s presidency.

Lima, Peru – For years, Peruvians have anticipated the 200th anniversary of the Andean nation’s independence, on July 28, 1821, as an auspicious date meant to usher in a new, fairer and more prosperous society. But as Pedro Castillo was sworn in as president on Wednesday, he and his 32 million compatriots will survey a society almost brought to its knees by the COVID-19 pandemic, political instability, endemic corruption and a bitter election campaign that has left Peruvians deeply divided. The previously little-known rural school teacher and union leader was a surprise winner of the presidential elections earlier this year. Nearly one in three voters still believe his defeated opponent Keiko Fujimori’s unsubstantiated claims that Castillo owed his victory to fraudulent ballot counting.