Election prospects fail in Peru amid massive protests

The prospect of elections in Peru, an attempt to contain the crisis caused by the arrest of former president Pedro Castillo, has failed this Friday (16) amid violent protests that have left thousands of tourists stranded in Cusco and Machu Picchu.

The demonstrations have already killed 18 people and injured more than 500, mostly after clashes with the military during the national state of emergency. Protesters are calling for Castillo’s release, the resignation of his constitutional successor, former vice president Dina Boluarte, the closure of parliament and emergency general elections.

But this Friday, the Peruvian Parliament rejected Boluarte’s proposal to pull the elections from 2026 to 2023. The initiative would allow elections to be held in December 2023 and Boluarte to leave power in April 2024. It jeopardizes his permanence in the presidency.

“What’s coming is the resignation of Dina Boluarte, which will lead to a democratic transition,” said left-wing congressman Ruth Luque. “Miss Boluarte should resign because of the number of Peruvians who died,” said centrist congressman Susel Paredes.

In the event of Boluarte’s resignation, Peruvian law indicates that his successor should be Congress president José Williams. If he too gives up, the mandate will be taken over by Supreme Court chief Elvia Barrios, who will be responsible for the call for new elections.

5,000 tourists stranded in Cusco

Boluarte had “a phone call with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken” this Friday, accompanied by Peruvian Foreign Minister Cecilia Gervasi, according to a statement from the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the dialogue, the United States reiterated its support for Peru and its “will to continue to strengthen the inclusive bilateral relationship”.

The tourist capital of the country, Cusco, in the Andes Mountains, has closed the roads and airports in the early hours of Friday, interrupting the flow of tourists. “There are 5,000 tourists stranded in the city of Cuzco, waiting for flights to reopen at their hotels,” said Darwin Baca, mayor of the neighboring Machu Picchu county.

Local officials have been informed that an army helicopter will arrive at the Machu Picchu area this Saturday (17) to transport more than 500 foreign tourists stranded on four flights.

Cusco’s international airport has been closed since Monday (12) after demonstrators attempted to occupy it. But this Friday, the Department of Defense announced it would reopen. “We are waiting for them to get us on a humanitarian plane so we can go to Lima and go to Argentina to see my wife’s family,” a Spanish tourist told local N channel.

caught red-handed

Meanwhile, from the Inca fortress of Machu Picchu, about 200 tourists, mostly Americans and Europeans, walked to the town of Ollantaytambo, about 30 km away, by train, to connect with Cusco. The tourist train, which is suspended, normally travels on this route.

Demonstrations in the country began after Castillo, a left-wing rural teacher of humble origins, tried to stage a self-coup on December 7, dissolved Parliament, interfered with public authorities and ruled by decree.

He was arrested “red-handed” while trying to reach the Mexican embassy to seek asylum. On Thursday, June 15, the court decided that he should remain in prison for 18 months, until June 2024, to be investigated for the crime of rioting. There is also an unprecedented constitutional complaint filed by the Public Ministry against Castillo for corruption.

Protests have become more intense in the Andes, a region in southern Peru that is plagued by poverty and has strong social demands. On Thursday, an attempt to seize Ayacucho airport (south) was stopped by the Army. “Eight people died in one day in demonstrations and clashes with the army in Ayacucho,” Ombudsman Eliana Revollar said, adding that the demonstrators were carrying slings and stones. “These people died from the shooting,” she added.

Children among the dead

Health Minister Rosa Gutiérrez said on Friday that the death toll had risen to 18 since the protests began on 7 December. There are at least two minors among them. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child urged Peru to investigate the deaths of minors.

In addition, six more deaths were recorded due to road closure-related events, such as a crush or the death of sick people – including minors – who did not reach the hospital in time.

According to the Ombudsman Institution, there are 518 injured, including 250 civilians and 268 police officers. Human rights organizations reported 147 detainees.

Boluarte condemned “the vandalism of some radicals using the goodwill of the people”. “This must end,” the president said during a military parade on Friday.

To protest the death of the demonstrators, Education Minister Patrícia Correa and Culture Minister Jair Pérez handed over their posts this Friday.

* With information from AFP