Former President of Peru, Pedro Castillo, has concluded a hunger strike lasting four days, initiated as a protest against his ongoing trial related to rebellion and other accusations, as announced by judicial authorities on Friday.
A clerk from the judiciary informed the Supreme Court’s panel handling the case that Castillo ended his hunger strike on Thursday afternoon. This decision came after his release from a hospital to which he was admitted earlier that day due to a health complication.
Castillo has been under detention since December 7, 2022, following a televised announcement in which he declared the dissolution of Congress and expressed his intentions to rule through decrees. His actions led Congress to remove him from office on the same day.
The former president is currently facing trial over charges including rebellion, significant abuse of authority, and disturbing public peace—a case that has polarized opinion in Peru. Prosecutors are urging the court to impose a 34-year prison sentence on Castillo.
He has characterized his trial as politically motivated and likened it to a “pantomime,” choosing to reject the legal representation offered by the judiciary.
Castillo’s removal stirred considerable protests, particularly in Peru’s southern regions, where at least 49 individuals lost their lives during demonstrations in the aftermath of his dismissal. Dina Boluarte, who was the Vice President at the time, assumed the presidency following his ouster.
Initially a rural school teacher with no prior political experience, Castillo emerged victorious in Peru’s 2021 presidential election. Besides the present trial, there is an ongoing criminal investigation into allegations of corruption during his presidency.
