Peru rejects new pardon request for ex‑president Pedro Castillo

Interim President José María Balcázar said his government could consider various forms of amnesty or humanitarian pardon for former president Pedro Castillo as part of a broader effort to “pacify” the country, citing examples from Spain and Germany. He stressed that a standard indulto was not legally viable but left open the possibility of other legal mechanisms.

The Presidential Grace Commission subsequently rejected a fresh pardon application for Castillo, stating the request did not meet the statutory requirements. The commission emphasized its technical, autonomous role and reiterated that any favorable decision must be unanimous. As a result, Castillo remains incarcerated in the Barbadillo prison while facing multiple criminal cases linked to the December 2022 constitutional crisis and the ongoing presidential runoff.