Peruvian lawmakers voted to impeach President Pedro Castillo on Wednesday, hours after Castillo attempted to dissolve the nation's congress and install an emergency government.

Political leaders in Peru were quick to denounce Castillo's decision, calling the effort a coup. Hours before Congress voted to remove the controversial leader, he gave an announcement to his country from the presidential palace.

"We have taken the decision to establish an emergency government, to reestablish the rule of law and democracy,'' Castillo said, adding that elections would be held for a new Congress "with the ability to draft a new Constitution."

Castillo's speech led to a flurry of activity within the government, including mass resignations among aides, advisors, and staffers, and the departure of at least seven cabinet members, including Minister of Environment Wilbert Rozas, Finance Minister Kurt Burneo, Foreign Relations Minister Cesar Landa, and Justice Minister Felix Chero.

A New York Times report also showed that Castillo lost the support of both Peru's military and police forces, a major blow to his efforts.

Soon after Castillo gave his announcement, Congress reconvened to impeach him with an overwhelming majority of 101-29.

International officials quickly sided with Congress, standing in solidarity with the Peruvian people and urging the ousted leader to allow Peru's democracy to function.

Argentina's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed "deep concern over the political crisis that the sister Republic of Peru is going through, and calls on all political and social actors to safeguard democratic institutions, the rule of law and constitutional order," in a statement on Twitter.

Argentina's Ministry of Foreign Affairs responds to reports of Peruvian President Castillo's attempts at a coup.

The U.S. Embassy in Lima also issued a statement condemning Castillo. "The United States emphatically urges President Castillo to reverse his attempt to close Congress and allow democratic institutions in Peru to work according to the constitution,'' the embassy said in a tweet.

Castillo has long rallied against his opposition for trying to remove him from office, despite being dogged by allegations of corruption for his entire tenure.

Castillo criticized the impeachment effort, linking it to the efforts of his election opponent Keiko Fujimori, who attempted to overturn the results of the 2021 election.

"Throughout the 17 months of my administration, a certain sector of Congress has focused solely on removing me from office, because they never accepted the results of an election that you, dear Peruvians, defined with your votes," Castillo said Tuesday.

Castillo ended the speech by insisting he was innocent of corruption, labeling himself as a man from the countryside who has had to pay for his inexperience.

Congress