Why are there protests in Peru? What are the protesters demanding?

Boluarte evaluates advancing elections to December 2023 1:03

(CNN) ––

The political upheaval in Peru has already been going on for a week, amid protests, a state of emergency, projects for early elections, a new ruler, and former President Pedro Castillo detained.

Since the ex-president was removed and arrested, after he announced his plans to dissolve Congress in the face of an imminent vacancy vote by legislators, protesters have taken to the streets.

• State of emergency in Peru: what it means, when, where and what restrictions are there

Protests broke out in cities across the country last week, sometimes marked by clashes with security forces.

Some are protesting in support of Castillo, while others are calling for new general elections and the dissolution of Congress.

What are the protesters demanding?

Protesters have called for general elections, the dissolution of Congress and the creation of a new constituent assembly.

Fernando Tuesta Soldevilla, a professor of Political Science at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP), told CNN that the protests represent a violent display of anger against "everything that has accumulated in recent years: growing social and economic ruptures." .

• After a week in office, the new president of Peru, Dina Boluarte, fights to contain the strong protests

Tuesta added that the demonstrators were also demonstrating for social and environmental issues, in addition to their "furious rejection of Congress."

advertising

However, Peruvian legislators hold the key to calling new elections and are unlikely to do so, as they would be voting themselves out of a job, according to Tuesta.

Are the protests violent?

At least eight people have died in the protests that have been registered in Peru, according to a tweet from the Ministry of Health on Wednesday.

Among the deceased are two minors, as reported on Tuesday by the press office of the Ombudsman of Peru.

And at least 47 people were hospitalized as a result of protests in the cities of Lima, Apurímac, Huancavelica and Arequipa, Peru's Ministry of Health tweeted.

• Last minute of the crisis and protests in Peru live: deaths, state of emergency and news

Boluarte called on Tuesday for calm to be restored to the country and said he had instructed police not to use lethal weapons against protesters.

"Everyone has the right to protest but not to commit acts of vandalism, burning hospitals, ambulances, police stations, assaulting airports, (these) are not normal protests, we have reached the extreme," added Boluarte.

What other consequences have the protests had?

Demonstrations have affected air and road travel in some regions of Peru.

Trains to and from Machu Picchu have been suspended since Tuesday, rail operator PeruRail said in a statement.

"We regret the inconvenience that these announcements generate for our passengers; however, they are due to situations beyond our company and we seek to prioritize the safety of passengers and workers," the statement read.

• Protests, deaths, an ongoing state of emergency and Pedro Castillo says he is "kidnapped": this is the political crisis in Peru

LATAM Airlines Peru announced the temporary suspension of its services to and from the airports of the cities of Juliaca, Arequipa and Cuzco.

Protesters tried to storm the terminal of Cusco's Alejandro Velasco Astete international airport on Monday, according to the Peruvian Airports and Commercial Aviation Corporation (CORPAC).

So far there have been no injuries, arrests or damage at the airport, according to CORPAC.

Crisis in PeruDina BoluartePedro CastilloProtests