Poor village school teacher Pedro Castillo becomes Peru's president
Thu, Jul 29, 2021
LIMA: Rural school teacher Pedro Castillo on Wednesday became Peru's first president with no ties to the elites that have governed the Andean country for decades.
The 51-year-old far-left trade unionist was largely unknown until he led a national strike four years ago that forced the then-government to agree to pay rise demands.
He was born to peasants in the tiny village of Puna in the historic Cajamarca region, where he worked as a teacher for 24 years.
He grew up helping his parents with farm work, and as a child, had to walk several miles to school.