Political crisis in Peru: Dina Boluarte asks for “forgiveness for the deceased” and calls for “national truce”

The president of Peru, Dina Boluarte, asked this Tuesday “a national truce“and he reiterated his opinion several times”sorry for the deceased“in an attempt to appease the serious social crisis that has shaken this country since December.

“I ask my beloved country for a national truce to be able to establish dialogue tables, to be able to set the agenda for each region and develop our peoples. I will not tire of calling them to dialogue, peace and unity”, said Boluarte . in a conference with the foreign press at the Government Palace in Lima.

Boluarte has repeatedly reiterated his “sorry for the deceased” in these protests, at least 46 directly linked to demonstrations, which resumed on January 4 in southern Peru and which maintain blockades on the country’s main routes. In addition, Boluarte he once again ruled out his resignation.

“I will go when we called the general election (…) I have no intention of staying in power, he stated emphatically, adding that Congress “no doubt” will confirm the progress of the February elections, scheduled for April 2024.

“Would my resignation solve the crisis and the violence? Who would assume the presidency of the Republic?”, he pointed out when asked by the press about his tenure in office.

Protests erupted after the removal and arrest of leftist President Pedro Castillo on December 7, when the sovereign tried to dissolve Parliament -controlled by the right- when he was about to oust him from power for alleged corruption.

The social crisis is also a reflection of the huge gap between the capital and the impoverished Andean provinces of southern Peru which supported Castillo, of indigenous origin, in the 2021 election.

Peru calculates losses of 554 million dollars due to the protests

Losses caused by anti-government protests in Peru total 2,150 million soles (approximately $554 million)Economy and Finance Minister Alex Contreras announced at a press conference on Tuesday.

The minister explained that the cumulative impact in December was 1,000 million soles ($258 million) and from January 1 to Monday, the losses reached 1,150 million ($296 million).

The most affected regions of the country are Cuzco, Madre de Dios and Punoall three located to the south and with significant checkpoints and pickets.

In this sense, he explained that, following the protests, a rising food prices “faced with the supply difficulties of the markets”.

He pointed out that in Cuzco there is a major impact on tourismthe main economic activity of the region.

And that the marches and blockades are hitting “the most vulnerable”, in relation to the fact that micro and small businesses (Mypes) are the ones who are suffering the most in this crisis.

“Although there has been a social conflict, the Peruvian currency remains stable and inflation is kept under control“, She said.

Despite the crisis, the economy minister said that Peru has “one of the least risky economies in the region”, an important factor and strength for “a rapid recovery” and specified that the country is at 207 points, under Colombia, Mexico and Brazil.

“Peru’s macroeconomic strengths remain and the Peruvian currency has had some volatility this week, but that isit remains the most stable currency in the region“Contreras said.

In this sense, he stressed that the price levels of commodities such as gold or copper remain high, which has a positive impact.

From the ministry they run two scenarios, if a quick dialogue is not reached and the conflict continues, the Peruvian economy would grow by 2% in the first quarter, but if a consensus is reached, which is what they are looking for, a minimum growth of 3% would be obtained..

He reiterated the information he already provided this Monday, that Peru’s annualized inflation could be around 9% at the end of Januarybecause of the protests.

The head of the Economy told reporters that “unfortunately, the biggest impact on the protests is having the issue of prices, which is why there would be an increase, but clearly it would be a temporary (price) increase.”

Contreras explained that Peruvian inflation in October and November “began to moderate, but jumped in December due to the protests” that erupted against President Dina Boluarte, upon her inauguration after the removal of Pedro Castillo, after she had attempted to stage a coup and rule by decree.

“The biggest impact of the protests is generating a rise in prices, so we expect annualized inflation to close between 8.8% and 8.9% in January,” the Peruvian minister said.

With information from AFP and EFE

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