The president of Peru, Pedro Castillo, must appoint a sixth defense minister of his term. This after the resignation presented this Saturday by Daniel Barragán, who had assumed office less than 3 months ago.
The Peruvian Minister of DefenseDaniel Barragan, He presented his irrevocable resignation this Saturday from the position he had held since last September, arguing “strictly personal reasons.”
This was communicated in a letter sent to President Pedro Castillo, while on his social networks he indicated that “for strictly personal reasons, I have presented my irrevocable resignation from the position of Minister of Defense. I thank the President of the Republic for having given me the invaluable opportunity to serve the country.”
I inform public opinion that, for strictly personal reasons, I have presented my irrevocable resignation from the position of Defense Minister. I thank the President of the Republic for giving me the invaluable opportunity to serve my country. pic.twitter.com/9Dn8nOr0gg
— Daniel Barragan (@DanielBarragan_) December 3, 2022
In the letter sent to the president, the minister expressed his “deep gratitude” to the head of the Joint Command of the Armed Forces and the military and civilian personnel of the Defense sector “for their support and teamwork to achieve the strategic objectives” of the sector.
Barragán, a retired officer from the Peruvian Air Force, took over the Defense portfolio on September 23 of this year, replacing Richard Tineo, who is currently Minister of Transportation and Communications.
On November 25, Barragán was confirmed in office, when Castillo swore in his fifth ministerial cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Betssy Chávez.
On that occasion, the minister thanked in a message on Twitter “the trust” of Castillo and Chávez for confirming his continuity in office and reaffirmed his commitment to the Armed Forces and the development of the country.
Now, with his departure from office, the head of state he will have to name the sixth defense minister since he took power in July last year.
Request for removal of Castillo
Barragan’s resignation just arrived four days before Congress debates and votes on a presidential impeachment petitionafter the plenary session admitted for processing the third vacancy motion raised by the opposition against Castillo, with the vote of 73 legislators in favor, 32 against and 6 abstentions.
The motion, which will be defined next Wednesday, was promoted by independent congressman Edward Málaga and calls for Castillo to be removed for an alleged “permanent moral incapacity” to continue in office.
In the document presented by Malaga, of more than 100 pages, it is ensured that “It is unacceptable for a president to hold office amid strong indications of corruption, grave indignity, or moral and ethical questioning.”
In explaining the reasons for his motion, the congressman said that he did so “with the full conviction that the most successful solution” to the political crisis facing his country “is an advance of general elections” and that the request for Castillo’s dismissal “It should serve as a first step for that readjustment” of the “democratic conditions.”