CNN
—
Peru’s new president, Dina Bollarte, a week into office, is struggling to contain widespread protests that erupted after the ouster of former president Pedro Castillo. She is her sixth president of the country in less than five years.
Bolarte announced on Tuesday that the government would set up a crisis management committee amid ongoing protests calling for political change across the country. The commission will be led by Pedro Angulo, chairman of the Peruvian Council of Ministers, and will include other representatives, including heads of the defense, transport, interior and communications ministries, the president announced on Twitter on Tuesday.
Following last week’s impeachment and arrest, Castillo has denied allegations of conspiracy and mutiny.
The former president was detained last week. His seven-day preventive detention order was scheduled to expire Wednesday at 1:42 p.m. ET. In a handwritten letter posted on Twitter, Castillo called on the Lima detention center where his supporters are being held to gather at that time.
But a hearing to determine whether Castillo’s detention will be extended has been postponed to Thursday morning, Judge Juan Carlos Checkley said during a virtual court session Wednesday. He said he remained in custody.
Since last week’s arrest and impeachment, Castillo’s supporters have continued to protest. As of Tuesday night, at least 14 local highways across the country had been blocked by protests, the Peruvian National Police said in a statement.
The military has been deployed to Peru to protect public spaces across the country amid ongoing protests, according to a statement by Peruvian Defense Minister Luis Alberto Otarola on Tuesday night.
“The national assets, airports, hydroelectric power plants and their strategic value have ordered the immediate protection by the military of all infrastructure strategic points that serve to ensure the livelihood and livelihood of all Peruvians. ” explained Otarora. In a statement broadcast by Peruvian state media, Peru TV.
The defense minister also declared a state of emergency for the national highway network.
“We plan to manage the road network across the country to ensure free passage for all Peruvians,” Otarola said.
He also said a state of emergency had been implemented, particularly in the southern cities of Arequipa and Ica, “to allow the military and the national police to manage internal order.”
What triggered Peru’s recent unrest?
Peru plunged into more political turmoil when Castillo was impeached and arrested on December 7 after announcing plans to dissolve parliament and install an emergency government ahead of a looming impeachment vote by deputies. rice field.
His former vice-president, Boruarte, has since become president, and in a televised address on Monday he proposed to advance the general election by two years to April 2024.
Castillo’s removal from power accelerated long-standing political tensions in the country. Since last week, demonstrations have erupted in cities across the country, sometimes marked by clashes with Peruvian security forces. Some protest in support of Castillo, while others want a complete reset of the country with new general elections and the dissolution of parliament.
Who is Pedro Castillo?
The former leftist leader, narrowly elected in July 2021, promised to “rule with and for the people,” but his short-lived presidency largely revolved around himself. has focused on the political survival of
A former local schoolteacher, Castillo survived two impeachment attempts in his first year as president and faces six ongoing investigations by the National Prosecutor’s Office.
His government has been in turmoil since its inception, with dozens of ministers appointed, replaced, dismissed or resigning, adding more pressure to the beleaguered president ahead of last week’s ousting.
Castillo has accused the opposition of trying to remove him from his first day in office and of orchestrating what Peru’s Attorney General Patricia Benavidez called a new form of “coup” against him.
In October, Benavides filed a constitutional complaint against him based on three of the six investigations her office initiated. The complaint allowed Congress to conduct its own investigation into the former president.
The National Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched a series of inquiries into whether Castillo used his position to gain support or preferential treatment to benefit himself, his family, and his closest allies. .
Castillo has repeatedly denied all allegations and reiterated his willingness to cooperate with the investigation. It claims to be the result of hunting.
Are the protests violent?
At least seven people have died in ongoing protests in Peru, according to a Health Ministry tweet on Wednesday.
At least 47 people were hospitalized as a result of protests in the cities of Lima, Apurimac, Huancavelica and Arequipa, the Peruvian ombudsman news agency said on Tuesday. The Ministry of Health tweeted.
On Tuesday, Boruarte called on the country to restore calm and said he had instructed police not to use deadly weapons against protesters.
“Everybody has the right to protest, but we don’t commit vandalism, burn hospitals, ambulances, police stations, attack airports. We have reached an extreme,” added Boruarte.
What other disruptions has the mayhem caused?
Trails and air travel across several regions of Peru have been affected by the demonstrations. Trains to and from Machu Picchu have been suspended since Tuesday, rail company PeruRail said in a statement.
“We apologize for any inconvenience these announcements may cause our customers. However, they are due to circumstances beyond our control and we are trying to prioritize the safety of our passengers and workers,” the statement said. says.
Flights have also been suspended due to protests, and LATAM Airlines Peru has announced the temporary suspension of services between the airports in the cities of Arequipa and Cusco.
Protesters attempted to storm the terminal of Cusco’s Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport on Monday, according to the Peruvian Airport Commercial Airline Company (CORPAC).
There have been no reports of injuries, arrests, or damage to the airport so far, according to CORPAC.
What do the demonstrators want?
Demonstrators have called for general elections, the dissolution of Parliament and the creation of a new Constituent Assembly.
Fernando Tuesta Soldevilla, professor of political science at the Catholic University of Peru (PUCP), told CNN that the protests were “an increase in everything that has accumulated over the last few years: social and economic fragmentation.” said he expressed violent anger towards
He added that the protesters were also demonstrating on social and environmental issues, in addition to “fierce rejection of parliament”.
But Peru’s parliamentarians hold the key to holding new elections and are unlikely to do so because they will lose their jobs by voting, said Tuesta Soldevilla.
Will Boluarte’s Rise Bring Stability?
Peru has been plagued by political instability in recent years, with many Peruvians calling for political change, with 60% of those polled seeking the presidency and parliamentary positions, according to a September poll by the Peruvian Institute. It became clear that they were in favor of early elections to revamp both.
It is unclear whether Mr. Bolarte’s inauguration as president will attract broad political support.
Boruarte “has no recognized political career,” said Tuesta Soldevilla. “And without a faction, a political party, a social organization behind her, she is weak from the start.”
“We all know when the Dina Volarte regime started, but no one knows how long it will last,” he told CNN.
Boruarte also does not belong to any political party after being expelled from the Peruvian Libre due to internal disagreements. For her to stay in her post, she needs to build bridges and reach an agreement with the opposition in parliament.
