The new president of Peru responds to calls to resign and the high death toll from the protests

The death toll from the protests in Peru since President Pedro Castillo was removed from office on December 7 has risen to 23.

According to the so-called "Office of the Ombudsman" in Peru, the death toll rose from 18 to 23. The office said in a statement that at least 569 people, including 216 people, were injured in the capital, Lima and other areas, as a result of confrontations between the police and the demonstrators.

In turn, the country's new president, Dina Polwarti, defended the armed forces and said that their take to the streets "was aimed at caring and protecting citizens, because this situation (demonstrations) got out of control" with the emergence of "violent groups," as she put it.

Peru recently declared a state of emergency throughout the country for a period of 30 days, following confrontations between the police and protesters in several regions, against the backdrop of Castillo's isolation and imprisonment.

The death toll from the protests in Peru has risen to 23, and about 569 people have been injured (Anatolia)

The demonstrators are calling for the release of ousted President Pedro Castillo, the resignation of Dina Polwarti, the suspension of Parliament and the immediate holding of general elections.

The most intense protests took place in the poverty-stricken southern Andean region.

In a letter addressed to the Peruvian people, Bolarte confirmed that she would remain in her post and urged parliament to bring forward general elections to end the crisis and protests sparked by the impeachment of her predecessor, Castillo.

"What can my resignation solve? I will remain here, until Congress decides to advance the elections (...) and ask for a reconsideration of the vote" that Parliament conducted on Friday, during which it refused to advance the date of the elections from 2026 to 2023.

Calls increased for Castillo's immediate release, following the court's decision last Thursday to keep him in prison for 18 months, as he faces charges of "rebellion and conspiracy."

The security forces arrested Castillo last Wednesday while he was trying to reach the Mexican embassy to seek asylum, following his decision to dissolve the Legislative Council (parliament) and declare a state of emergency before the parliament held a third session to vote on his impeachment.

Peru's parliament, which is dominated by the right-wing opposition, approved the impeachment of left-wing President Pedro Castillo, ignoring his decision to dissolve parliament.

Castillo had previously survived two other proposals to impeach him in Parliament, the last of which was last March, on charges of "moral incapacity".