Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Peru in peril: On the political crisis in the South American country

Peru in peril: On the political crisis in the South American country

The government and opposition must agree on an early date for fresh elections

With the killing of 17 civilians and one police officer on Monday amid anti-government protests, the month-long political crisis (संकट) in Peru has crossed a bloody threshold (सीमा) and could trigger more waves of violence. The incident (घटना) shows not only the barbarity of the country’s security personnel (कार्मिक) in dealing with protests, but also the failure of President Dina Boluarte and of her predecessor (पूर्वज) Pedro Castillo in uniting (To cause to be in a state of mutual sympathy) and stabilising (स्थिर बनाना, दृढ़ करना) the country during the periods they have been in power. The crisis is the result of a power struggle between Mr. Castillo and Congress. Mr. Castillo, a former school teacher and a trade unionist, was elected President in 2021 on promises such as ensuring political stability, fighting corruption and addressing chronic (दीर्घकालिक) inequality. But without any administrative and political experience, Mr. Castillo found it hard to negotiate (मोल-भाव करना) the maze (A confusing network of paths or passages) of Peruvian polity. As he struggled to get a grip on governance, a hostile Congress and the wealthy classes lined up against him. Corruption scandals and alleged links with criminal syndicates weakened Mr. Castillo’s position in Lima. Congress voted to fire him twice, but failed to garner enough support. As a third vote was due in December last year, Mr. Castillo made the drastic (कठोर, भीषण) announcement of dissolving Congress, which also triggered (To cause to happen) his impeachment (महाभियोग, अभियोग).

But if Mr. Castillo, currently in jail, miscalculated the consequences (परिणाम, महत्त्व) of his decision to dissolve Parliament, his successor (उत्तराधिकारी) and legislators misjudged the leftist leader’s support among the poor. Violent protests broke out in Peru’s highlands demanding Mr. Castillo’s restoration or early elections. Mr. Castillo called Ms. Boluarte “usurper (हड़पनेवाला)”, while his supporters said the president they voted for was not allowed to complete his legitimate (वैध, कानूनी) term, which was to expire in 2026. At least 47 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in protests, ever since Mr. Castillo was ousted (Drive out or expel (someone) from a position or place). As she came under enormous (Greatly exceeding the common size) pressure, Ms. Boluarte promised to hold elections by April 2024 (pending approval from Congress), but this was dismissed by Mr. Castillo and his supporters, leaving the country in disarray. Both sides have a hand in the current crisis and should come together to find a way out. Restoring (To bring back into use) Mr. Castillo may not be practically and constitutionally (relating to an established set of principles governing a state) possible, but Ms. Boluarte’s government could release him from prison in return for peace. To end the current impasse, the government, the opposition and Congress should agree on the earliest possible date for fresh elections. Peru’s political class should also be ready for broader constitutional reforms (The action or process of reforming an institution or practice) that allow the presidency and the legislature (The legislative body of a country or state) to function without confrontation (A face-to-face meeting).

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.Peril (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - जोखिम
English Meaning - Something that may be harmful or cause injury or damage.

2.Crisis (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - संकट
English Meaning - A time of extreme difficulty.

3.Threshold (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - सीमा
English Meaning - The point after which something changes or begins.

4.Incident (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - घटना
English Meaning - An event or occurrence

5.Personnel (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - कार्मिक
English Meaning - A body of persons employed in an organization or a factory.

6.Predecessor (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - पूर्वज
English Meaning - A person who precedes another in the office.

7.Stabilize (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - स्थिर बनाना, दृढ़ करना
English Meaning - To make stable.

8.Chronic (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - दीर्घकालिक
English Meaning - Never-ending

9.Negotiate (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - मोल-भाव करना
English Meaning - To deal or bargain with others in preparing a contract or a deal as a preliminary to a business deal.

10.Impeachment (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - महाभियोग, अभियोग
English Meaning - The impeaching of a public official.

11.Drastic (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - कठोर, भीषण
English Meaning - Extremely severe.

12.Consequence (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - परिणाम, महत्त्व
English Meaning - The outcome of something.

13.Successor (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - उत्तराधिकारी
English Meaning - A person or thing that follows.

14.Usurper (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - हड़पनेवाला
English Meaning - Someone who seizes someone else's position or power by force or without any legal right to do so.

15.Legitimate (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - वैध, कानूनी
English Meaning - According to the law.

16.Unite (Verb)

English Meaning - To cause to be in a state of mutual sympathy.

17.Maze (Noun)

English Meaning - A confusing network of paths or passages.

18.Trigger (Verb)

English Meaning - To cause to happen

19.Oust (Verb)

English Meaning - Drive out or expel (someone) from a position or place.

20.Enormous (Adjective)

English Meaning - Greatly exceeding the common size.

21.Restore (Verb)

English Meaning - To bring back into use.

22.Constitutional (Adjective)

English Meaning - relating to an established set of principles governing a state.

23.Reform (Noun)

English Meaning - The action or process of reforming an institution or practice.

24.Confrontation (Noun)

English Meaning - A face-to-face meeting.

25.Legislature (Noun)

English Meaning - The legislative body of a country or state.