Peru registers heated protests as political crisis worsens

As Peru transitions from one political crisis to the next, the country is bursting with protests, with at least seven dead last week and smoke from fires and tear gas rising from the streets of the capital, Lima. The end of the crisis seems far away.

The spark of the current unrest was the overthrow and imprisonment of left-wing leader Pedro Castillo following an attempt to illegally dissolve Congress. .

Peru has become one of Latin America’s 21st century economic stars, with its strong economic growth lifting millions out of poverty. But political turmoil threatens to increasingly derail its economic stability, with warnings of downgrades by rating agencies, roadblocks affecting major mines at the world’s second-largest copper producer, and protesters demanding the resignation of Congress and new president Dina Boluarte.

It should come as no surprise to those watching the country closely. Voters are fed up with the constant political infighting that has seen six presidents and seven impeachment attempts over the past five years.

The highly fragmented unicameral Congress is hated with only an 11% approval rate, according to pollster Datum. The score is lower than that of Castillo, who, despite a string of corruption allegations, had an approval rating of 24% just before he was ousted.

“The people of Peru are tired of all the political intrigue, crime, uncertainty and stagnant growth,” said Eric Farnsworth, vice president of the Council of America and the Community of Americas.

Farnsworth said Boluarte’s commitment to hold an early election in April 2024 may help ease tensions in the short term, but it will not resolve issues entrenched in a divided electorate and the internal conflict between the executive branch and Congress.

“It’s a poisonous soup with a weak president, a dysfunctional Congress, an ousted president looking to build popular resistance to legitimate impeachment, an agitated public, and little vision for anyone to come out of this mess,” he said.

While the Peruvian constitution makes it relatively easy for an unhappy Congress to initiate impeachment, the absence of dominant political parties (the largest, Forza Popular, controls only 24 of the 130 seats) means the deals aren’t as viable as they used to be. Corruption has also been a frequent problem.

The only way many Peruvians feel they can have their voices heard is on the street. In recent days, protesters have blocked roads, set fire to and even seized airports. Police have been criticized by human rights groups for using firearms and tear gas. At least seven people died, most of them young.

There are repercussions for the protests in 2020, when thousands took to the streets after popular leader Martin Vizcarra, who was succeeded by Congress President Manuel Merino, was ousted and ousted. He was forced to resign after two people died.

Castillo, who is less popular but has a support base in rural areas that helped him win a close election last year, has sought to keep his support alive from the prison where he was held pending an investigation into riot and conspiracy charges.

On Monday, he described former vice-president Boluarte as a “usurper” in a letter to the Peruvian people in which he still claims to be the country’s true leader.

“What was said recently by an usurper is nothing but snot and bullshit by the putschist right,” he wrote, adding a long-popular call among the younger generation of Peruvians for a new constitution.

“The people should not be fooled by the dirty tricks of the new elections. No more abuses! A Constituent Assembly now! Freedom immediately!” He wrote.

Boluarte, a member of Castillo’s far-left party and who had become at odds with and critical of his leader after his attempt to dissolve Congress, called for nationwide calm and promised a government for all. But caught between protesters and a hostile parliament, he faces a harsh reality.