Demonstrations in Peru – President declares state of emergency for Lima and other cities – News

• In Peru, President Dina Boluarte has declared a state of emergency in various parts of the country.
• The capital Lima and the tourist city of Cusco in the Andes are among those affected.
• More than 40 people have died in protests against President Boluarte in Peru in recent weeks.

The government newspaper «El Peruano” has the decree published on the state of emergency. This is valid for 30 days and gives the army the right to maintain public order. The regions around Lima, Callao, Cusco and Puno are affected. There is also a curfew from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. in Puno. Constitutional rights such as freedom of assembly and freedom of movement are restricted by the decree.

Peru has been wracked by unrest since the ouster and arrest of leftist President Pedro Castillo on December 7. He is accused of illegally trying to dissolve parliament to avoid impeachment. Castillo’s supporters are demanding the politician’s release, the resignation of his successor, Dina Boluarte, and the dissolution of parliament to hold new elections without delay.

Already 42 dead protesters

At least 42 people have died in the weeks of protests since early December. Prosecutors said 355 civilians and 176 police officers were injured and 329 citizens arrested – all in connection with the anti-government street protests.

Peruvian President Dina Boluarte has apologized to the population for the many victims of protests across the country in recent weeks. “I understand and share your outrage, the state has a great debt to the country,” said Boluarte in an address to the nation on Friday evening.

Many resignations – but not Boluarte

However, Boluarte rejects demands for his resignation. Instead, she asked Congress to bring forward the elections. The President also announced that the Interior Minister, the Labor Minister and the Women’s Minister had resigned in the face of the demonstrations.

Legend:

The new President Boluarte is the first woman to lead Peru. Previously, she was Vice President and Minister for Development and Social Inclusion under Castillo.

REUTERS/Angela Ponce

Boluarte immediately replaced resigning Interior Minister Víctor Rojas with Vicente Romero, a retired senior police officer, on Friday. Before his resignation, Interior Minister Rojas had been heavily criticized for the use of force by the police against demonstrators.

Women’s Minister Grecia Rojas was replaced by Nancy Tolentino after her resignation. The new labor minister, Luis Alfonso Adrianzén, also took his oath of office. His predecessor Eduardo García resigned on Thursday because of the government’s handling of the protests.