Peru cabinet earns Congress' vote of confidence

The cabinet of Peruvian President Pedro Castillo earned a vote of confidence on Thursday, amid protests and defiance found inside his party and the opposition.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside Congress during the day. Some groups belonging to unions expressed support, while others were plainly opposed to the leftist government.

Those opposed to Castillo's government have called it "communist" and feared any association of the standing government with the Shining Path rebel group.

Prime Minister Mirtha Vasquez called for the motion of confidence, earning the support of 68 representatives.

The vote ends a standstill of weeks, when the voting was suspended after the sudden death of a Congress representative.

Castillo also named Avelino Guillen as the new Interior Minister, the third who has held that position since the administration took office in 2020.

IMAGE: AP