I’m in no doubt that Castillo has been displaying hat to highlight a link with rural Peruvians, who are more familiar with hats than the average Lima person (¿cómo se dice “limeño” en inglés?). I can’t blame him for the sketch, it could work as a political tactic, but I consider that he’s been abusing his hat. He doesn’t take it off when inside buildings. I’ve heard and witnessed that hats are expected to be taken off inside buildings. How come a hat bearer doesn’t use the hat properly? I wouldn’t be surprised if Castillo weren’t even used to wear a hat prior to 2021 (as in the example of the 2017 protests).

The president has made himself one with the hat. Now it looks weird to see him without the hat. Or maybe it’s only me. But he uses it so much that I expect many to believe that he is indivisible from the hat. That without the hat, perhaps he’s no one. This theme is pretty interesting, it deserves a post of its own.