Former Peruvian president Pedro Castillo asked Congress for a lifetime pension, which sparked a new political debate in the country. This was reported by Exitosa Noticias magazine on May 8.
Earlier, former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori asked Congress for a pension, a personal assistant and payment of fuel expenses. However, parliament has already recognized Fujimori’s request as unfounded.
In this regard, Castillo’s lawyer, Walter Ayala, explained the former president’s legal position. “Yes, that was his right. For me this is not the Fujimori case, because there is a ruling. The fact that he was pardoned does not change his sentence. In the case of President Pedro Castillo he does not have a verdict.”he said.
It should be noted that according to the laws of Peru, former presidents convicted by the judiciary do not enjoy benefits such as pensions. The former president’s right to a lifetime pension is revoked if parliament constitutionally challenges him or brings a constitutional charge against him, which can be revoked if the court determines his innocence.
“The presumption of innocence is violated because the accusation is made by Congress, which is not impartial.”Ayala said. He intends to sue the legislature if Congress does not grant Castillo a lifetime pension.
It should be noted that on May 6, former President of Peru Alberto Fujimori appealed to the Congress of the Republic with a request to grant him a pension, a personal assistant and payment of fuel costs. Fujimori, who received a pardon in December 2023, sent several letters to Congress with his requests. The amount of pension he requests is 15,600 soles (a little more than 4,000 dollars).
Let us remember that the former president of Peru (1990-2000), who was serving a 25-year prison sentence for serious human rights violations, was released on December 6, 2023. The pardon occurred in the 16th year of his imprisonment due due to his advanced age and poor health.
The leader of the Fujimoristas, Alberto Fujimori, is known for the fact that in the 90s, becoming a right-wing dictator president, he created an authoritarian regime in which “death squads” fought against left-wing rebels, whom the current government of Peru calls “terrorists” and hundreds of thousands of Indians were subjected to forced sterilization. In 2009, Fujimori was found guilty of human rights violations and sentenced to 25 years in prison. Now his Popular Force party is led by his daughter and follower Keiko Fujimori.
Former president Pedro Castillo, overthrown by a coup d’état, is still serving prison sentences for sedition after attempting to dissolve parliament and for allegedly being the leader of a criminal organization.
Source: Rossa Primavera
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