Peruvian opposition demands impeachment of President Castillo

Peru’s opposition called late Tuesday for the impeachment of President Pedro Castillo as his name is involved in corruption allegations.

"Fulfilling our commitment to all Peruvians and in defense of Democracy, I have presented the Presidential Vacancy motion signed by congressmen from different benches," Popular Renewal party leader Jorge Montoya said on Twitter. "We cannot lose more time!"

"We are in favor of a vacancy because the president and some ministers are denounced for corruption," he said, adding he will not support the Cabinet because it "supports corruption.”

Castillo has rejected the corruption allegations.

"Today, they are trying to drive us away and dismiss us so that our country's problems are not resolved," he said.

A motion by opposition parties' to remove Castillo from office for "persistent moral incompetence" was not passed by Congress on Dec. 8.

In the voting held in the Congress, 46 votes in favor, 76 against and four abstentions were cast.

Under Peruvian law, 87 votes out of 130 members of Congress are needed to remove a president from office.