Peru's President Pedro Castillo presents his vaccination certificate after receiving a dose of China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine in Lima, capital of Peru, Aug. 6, 2021. Pedro Castillo on Friday expressed confidence in China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine after receiving his dose.Photo:Xinhua

Peruvian President Pedro Castillo said Sunday that an impeachment motion approved by the opposition-led Congress “is part of the political game” against him.

Castillo made his remarks in the northern region of Cajamarca, where he voted during the second round of elections that have been taking place in nine regions of the South American nation. Castillo said he was sure that, despite the motion, his government has been “set up by the majority” of citizens and that it is necessary to “defend the popular will.”

He also said that his government is willing to engage in “dialogue, to see things democratically, respecting institutions.”

The Peruvian president did not confirm whether he would attend the plenary session.

Castillo’s lawyer Benji Espinoza said on Saturday that the attendance of the Peruvian president at the debate has not yet been confirmed but that the “permanent moral incapacity” reason used to open the impeachment motion is “very open and very abstract.”

On Friday, Castillo said “nothing will prevent” him from serving his full term in office, a day after Peru’s Congress voted to start impeachment proceedings against him for alleged “moral incompetence.”

Peru’s Congress decided by a vote of 73 to 32 to begin impeachment proceedings against the president, with the vote to take place on Wednesday. 

Xinhua