New election bill fails again in Congress in Peru

Enlarge image

People demonstrate in Lima against interim president Dina Boluarte

Photo: Martin Mejia/AP

Peru has been gripped by unrest since the ouster and arrest of leftist President Pedro Castillo.

Demonstrators are demanding a restart of politics – but it is still stuck.

The South American country's parliament again rejected a bill that would allow early elections.

This was reported by the Peruvian news agency "Agencia Andina" on Wednesday evening (local time).

Accordingly, 68 MPs voted against holding elections this year instead of the regular 2026 elections, 54 were in favor, two abstained.

87 yes votes are necessary.

Controversy over new legislative period

The project envisaged that those then elected would not take up a five-year term of office, but would complete the legislative period by 2026.

In December, Congress had already rejected a bill for early parliamentary and presidential elections in the Andean country.

Another proposal is due to be voted on Thursday, but Parliament is fragmented.

Early elections are one of the demands of the demonstrators, many from poor southern Peru, who have been taking to the streets across the country for almost two months.

Again and again there are serious clashes between protesters and police officers.

Dozens of people have died since the uprisings began.

A state of emergency has now been declared for almost a third of the Andean country.

In addition to new elections, the demonstrators are demanding the resignation of interim President Dina Boluarte, the dissolution of Congress and the release of ex-President Castillo.

The former village school teacher wanted to forestall a vote of no confidence in December and dissolved the congress.

Parliament then removed him from office.

He was arrested on charges of an attempted coup and is in custody.

mrc/dpa