Peru’s Congress voted Tuesday against a motion to impeach Peruvian President Pedro Castillo Terrones. The motion was filed due to an alleged “permanent moral incapacity.”

The presidential impeachment motion required approval by 52 legislators before it could be admitted for congressional debate. However, Peru’s Congress voted 76 to 46 against the motion. Subsequently, President of Congress Maricarmen Alva Prieto suspended the session late in the evening.

Castillo, a former officer and union leader, became president in July 2021. His administration claims to seek solutions to poverty, inequality, corruption, crime and centralism. At that time, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken spoke with Castillo to congratulate Peruvian voters “for an electoral process indicative of a strong and vibrant democracy.” Blinken also noted that the US and Peru remain economic partners with a “shared commitment to promoting inclusive economic prosperity, protecting the environment, addressing the climate crisis, improving public health, and ensuring educational opportunities for all.”

After Peru’s Congress declined to debate the impeachment motion, Castillo announced Thursday that he will lead the 39th session of the High-Level Anti-Corruption Commission. This session will consider and analyze an integrity strategy and executive power for preventing corrupt acts. It will also feature a presentation on promoting and implementing ethical and civic values that seek to eliminate corruption.

President Castillo is not the only Peruvian president to face public scrutiny this year. In September, a US judge ordered that former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo be extradited to Peru. Toledo fled to the US when Peru charged him with collusion and money laundering. Peru Justice Minister Annibal Torres welcomed the order and US support for Peru’s right to try its former president.