Political crisis in Peru: after a night of fury, President Dina Boluarte says she will not resign

The massive protest in the center of Lima led by thousands of people to demand the resignation of President Dina Boluarte culminated in

, a historic building set on fire and the resistance of the president, who ruled out resigning and

. "

However,

of anti-government marches is expected for this Friday.

"They are not going to intimidate us, they are not going to intimidate us,"

warn protesters against Boluarte in Lima.

President Dina Boluarte confirmed that her "government is firm" and accused the protesters who are calling for her resignation of wanting to "break the rule of law."

Photo: EFE

The protesters demand the resignation of President Boluarte, the sanction for those responsible for the more than forty deaths from shots fired by the security forces, the closure of the Congress controlled by the right, elections for this year 2023 and a Constituent Assembly.

Some sectors also the release of former President Pedro Castillo.

“We are being very clear in our orders, it is a common platform at the national level.

What is taking place in this country

, ”says the social leader Olinda Vertel.

a black thursday

Thousands of protesters, mostly from the south of the country, gathered around the San Martín square in the Peruvian capital since the early hours of Thursday, the scene of the most recent episode of the political crisis that has engulfed the Andean country for years. one month.

The protesters, who had initially gathered peacefully in a street near the square, ran into about 11,000 police officers who were guarding the square.

Some hurled rocks and bottles at the policemen, who

.

There were clashes between police and protesters in Lima in a day of fury.

Photo: AFP

The protests, which began around noon, continued throughout the day.

In the evening, a historic building near the area of ​​the demonstrations

and firefighters set out to put out the fire that stretched several meters into the sky.

The fire chief, Luis Ponce, said he did not know the origin of the fire and if it had any relation to the protests.

He added that

.

In a press statement issued together with a group of ministers at the Government Palace in Lima, President Dina Boluarte denied that she is going to resign.

"I want to deny the false news (...)

and its cabinet is more united than ever," the president emphasized. 

The ruler assured that, despite the increase in protests and confrontations, she maintains her invitation to dialogue with the political and social forces that

, as well as the call for general elections and a constituent assembly.

Aerial image of the historic building that caught fire in Lima during the day of protests against the president, Dina Boluarte.

Photo: AP

"Again I call for dialogue, I call for calm," he remarked. 

He also announced that the authorities will act "with the full weight of the law" and are "identifying these bad citizens who are generating acts of violence."

The head of state also

during the demonstrations this Thursday in Lima "and in some targeted places where violent protests have occurred."

He included in his thanks the members of the National Prosecutor's Office, the Ombudsman's Office and the press, to which he expressed his solidarity "for" those men and women of the press who have been attacked" during the protests.

"The acts of violence generated throughout these days, from December until now, in January, will not go unpunished, the

and the laws," he said.

incidents in the south

At the same time, in Arequipa, Peru's second city,

during a pitched battle between the forces of order and a thousand outraged people who tried to storm the airport with stones, only to be repelled with gases. tear.

Scenes of the confrontation between protesters and police on the Añashuayco bridge, in the city of Arequipa, Peru.

Photo: AFP

"We regret the death of a person during

, a road that is located in the north of the city," the Ombudsman's Office said on Twitter, asking the prosecutor's office for a quick investigation of the facts to determine responsibilities. 

The airports of Cusco and Arequipa suspended their operations for security reasons.

The railway service between Cusco and the Inca citadel Machu Picchu, a jewel of tourism in Peru, was also suspended, the operating company reported.

Source: agencies and RFI

look also

Four keys to understanding the fury against Dina Boluarte in Peru

Political crisis in Peru: tension in Lima due to protesters calling for the resignation of Dina Boluarte and to advance elections