Overview
- This week President José María Balcázar said he will not rule out a presidential pardon for Pedro Castillo but insisted any decision must rest on a solid legal and constitutional basis.
- The Comisión de Gracias Presidenciales has declared submitted petitions inadmissible and the Ministry of Justice says there are no active, admissible requests on file.
- Official records show seven indulto petitions and one gracia were lodged, and Justice Minister Luis Jiménez said the paperwork was rejected for strict formal defects and archived.
- Pedro Castillo remains in prison after a conviction for conspiracy tied to his December 7, 2022 attempt to dissolve institutions, and legal experts note a pardon is complicated when sentencing or final appeals are unresolved.
- Peru’s pardon process requires an admissible administrative petition reviewed by the presidential pardons commission, so Balcázar’s remaining days in office and political sensitivity mean the next move depends on a properly filed request or the incoming government.