Peruvian Ombudsman Josué Gutiérrez is facing calls to resign after opposition lawmakers condemned his comments about dissolving Congress as an antidemocratic threat.
Gutiérrez sparked widespread controversy during a broadcast interview when he remarked that politician Keiko Fujimori could see her popularity increase by 20 to 30 points if she were to close Congress tomorrow. He added that he was not encouraging such a move because he considers himself a democrat who believes in principles.
In response, four opposition caucuses in the Senate issued a joint statement expressing their categorical rejection of what they described as coup-inciting remarks by the Ombudsman. Spokespersons Flavio Figallo of Juntos por el Perú, Alfonso López Chau of Partido del Buen Gobierno, José Castillo of Ahora Nación, and Daniel Barragán of Obras signed the document, asserting that his statement represents an attack against the Constitution and the balance of powers.
The joint statement emphasized that questioning the existence or functioning of Congress without respecting the legal framework is an antidemocratic action. The spokespersons confirmed that the opposition block will take formal measures against Gutiérrez from within the Senate.
Daniel Barragán, spokesman for the Obras party, separately called for Gutiérrez to present his resignation, describing the Ombudsman's statements as disgraceful for an official tasked with safeguarding constitutional order. Barragán rejected the idea that the comments were a simple slip, calling them an internalized antidemocratic attitude that disqualifies Gutiérrez from holding office.
Executive response and official defense
Peru's president downplayed the controversy, describing the comments by Gutiérrez as a slip and rejecting any intention to shut down Congress.
The Ombudsman's Office also issued a statement asserting that Gutiérrez was providing an analysis of a hypothetical scenario rather than exhorting anyone to dissolve Congress. The institution stated that his remarks had been misinterpreted.
The Ombudsman's Office, known in Peru as the Defensoría del Pueblo, is an autonomous constitutional body established to safeguard fundamental rights, monitor state obligations, and protect democratic governance. Headed by the Ombudsman, the agency is expected to remain politically neutral and uphold constitutional order. Keiko Fujimori is a prominent political leader who heads the Fuerza Popular party.
Political analysis and removal procedure
Political analyst Adrian Risco stated that the Ombudsman's comments were driven by political calculation aimed at positioning himself amid shifting political dynamics. Risco explained that the arrival of a new government and fresh lawmakers reshuffled the political board, potentially weakening the previous parliamentary consensus that placed Gutiérrez in office.
Risco noted that discussing a congressional closure is a major matter for an official whose duty is to protect democratic order. He pointed out that the Senate's Special Procedures Commission, which is chaired by Juntos por el Perú, has the power to initiate a removal procedure against Gutiérrez for serious misconduct.
On the constitutional framework, Risco clarified that suggesting an unauthorized closure of Congress violates the essence of the nation's constitution. He noted that while a legal mechanism exists to dissolve the Chamber of Deputies, it requires the chamber to reject two formal motions of confidence. He added that the Board of Spokespersons can turn down a confidence motion without it counting as a substantive refusal, creating strict legal conditions that have not been met.
