The former president of Peru, Pedro Castillo, will remain in police detention for the next 18 months, a Peruvian judge determined on Thursday. Castillo is charged with "rebellion and conspiracy" for attempting to dissolve Congress during last week's impeachment vote.

Castillo has been in police detention since he was arrested on his way to the Mexican consulate in Lima on December 7. His vice president, Dina Boluarte, was then sworn in as president. His ouster from office and subsequent imprisonment have sparked violent demonstrations in Peru.

The arrest of Castillo sparked a surge of protests throughout Peru, which resulted in at least eight deaths and dozens of injuries. Castillo's supporters briefly seized control of an airport in the south of Peru, where Castillo is from, and have shut down hundreds of roadways.

Yesterday, Boluarte declared a 30-day state of emergency to quell the protesters. It has been enforced with the support of the military. El Comercio reported that the defense minister of Peru stated that there is a potential that a curfew may be introduced.

Castillo has referred to Boluarte, his former vice president, as a "usurper" and stated that Boluarte is "humiliated, cut off, tortured, and kidnapped."

The seventeen-month reign of Castillo was marred by scandal. During his administration, he passed through nearly 80 cabinet members (including five secretary of state) and was accused of directing a criminal enterprise from the Presidential Palace by the prosecutor's office.

Last Monday, when facing a third impeachment vote in Congress, Castillo claimed that he would rule by decree instead, thereby attempting a self-coup.

Following his removal from office, Boluarte became Peru's fifth president since 2020 and its first female head of state.