César Astudillo faces censure motion in Peru over security concerns

César Astudillo moción de censura inseguridad ciudadana Perú criminalidad

The Peruvian Congress is facing a political crisis as opposition parties have filed a motion of censure against Interior Minister César Astudillo. The motion, supported by the Juntos por el Perú, Obras, and Buen Gobierno caucuses, seeks to remove Astudillo due to his perceived inability to address rising crime and violence in the country.

Key arguments for the censure include a surge in homicides, with 1,499 cases recorded through August 2026, and the high-profile murder of regional candidate Susy Aponte Polo, known as ‘China Polo,’ who had previously reported death threats. The motion alleges that the Ministry of the Interior failed to provide adequate protection or investigation following her reports of threats from penitentiaries.

Government officials have defended the minister. Prime Minister Luis Galarreta argued that changing ministers is not a solution to structural crime and noted that Astudillo has only been in office for approximately 60 days. Meanwhile, the Ahora Nación caucus has declined to sign the motion, with leader Alfonso López Chau suggesting that a censure at this early stage of the administration may not be the appropriate solution.

Entities

Alfonso López Chau · Chamber of Deputies · Congreso de la República · César Astudillo · César Augusto Astudillo Salcedo · Juntos por el Perú · Keiko Fujimori · Luis Galarreta · Ministry of the Interior · Peru

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 2 SOURCES] The Ahora Nación caucus has not signed the motion. anp.pe · elbuho.pe
[● 2 SOURCES] The motion includes 35 signatures. anp.pe · jornada.com.pe
[○ 1 SOURCE] Prime Minister Luis Galarreta defended the minister, stating that changing ministers is not the solution to criminality. altavoz.pe
[● 2 SOURCES] The motion was promoted by the Juntos por el Perú caucus. agendapais.com · jornada.com.pe
[● 3 SOURCES] The opposition presented a motion of censure against Interior Minister César Astudillo. agendapais.com · jornada.com.pe · diariocorreo.pe
[● 2 SOURCES] The motion cites 1,499 homicides recorded through August 2026. agendapais.com · caretas.pe
[○ 1 SOURCE] The Buen Gobierno caucus has decided to support the censure motion. diariocorreo.pe
[○ 1 SOURCE] The murder of Susy Aponte Polo, known as 'China Polo', was a trigger for the censure motion. jornada.com.pe