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Peruvian Prime Minister Anibal Torres resigned last week after just nine months in office, the fourth leader to quit in the 16 months since the election of leftist President Pedro Castillo, amid ongoing disputes between him and the opposition-held congress that have deepened Peru’s political impasse, Bloomberg reported.

Torres stepped down after congress rejected a vote of confidence he presented. The former leader said the vote was aimed at disciplining the chamber.

Castillo accepted Torres’ resignation and has since appointed former Minister of Culture Betssy Chavez to the role, amid plans to further reshuffle the cabinet. He also denounced the vote down by lawmakers, saying it was a clear “rejection of confidence” – which, according to Peru’s constitution, could open the door to dissolving the unicameral body.

Congress’ President Jose Williams disputed that the legislature’s vote meant the government was being censured as a whole. Instead, he urged the president against seeking to shutter the chamber.

Analysts said the reshuffle puts congress in check for now, but others added that the political crisis will likely continue especially if lawmakers take the matter to the Constitutional Tribunal.

Castillo, a former rural schoolteacher, has changed a number of ministers and has faced two impeachment attempts since he took office in July 2021.