No country in Latin America suffers higher rates of dissatisfaction with democracy and government institutions than Peru. Absent remedies for political polarisation and state dysfunction, the mass protests that rocked the country in late 2022 could easily recur, bringing comparably violent crackdowns.
Large anti-govt protests took place in Lima and other departments across country.
Amid simmering political tensions, notably since former President Pedro Castillo’s arrest in Dec 2022, tens of thousands 19 July marched in capital Lima and other departments, while others blocked highways around provincial towns, namely in Puno and Cusco; protests were largely peaceful, though riot police in Lima fired tear gas at protesters attempting to enter Congress carrying rocks and bottles. Protesters were calling for President Boluarte’s resignation, as well as closure of Congress, early general elections, work on a new constitution and Castillo’s release, signalling widespread distrust with country’s main democratic institutions. Fresh protests took place 29 July, which marks Independence Day, with police briefly clashing with protesters and attacking at least three journalists. During the Independence Day speech in Lima, Boluarte called for a great “national reconciliation” and urged Congress to delegate legislative powers to executive for 120 days to tackle crime with greater efficiency.
In this video, Crisis Group explores the causes behind the high rates of dissatisfaction with democracy and government institutions in Peru, which are higher than in any other country in Latin America.
Mass protest has rocked Peru for two months, leading to 60 deaths. In this Q&A, Crisis Group expert Glaeldys González Calanche explains the root causes of the crisis and sketches some possible ways forward.
Bolivia and Peru are becoming a second, though compared to Colombia still relatively small-scale, pole of cocaine production in the Andes, feeding in particular a growing Latin American market in addition to the traditional U.S. and European markets.
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