What's Happening in Peru?

News | Nithya Kunta | January 9th, 2023.

On December 7, 2022, Peruvian President Pedro Castillo was ousted after he attempted to temporarily suspend congress to avoid impeachment for “moral incapacity”. His best ministers, political allies, and lawyer as well as the armed forces and police all deserted him and denounced his actions.

As a result, protests have broken out across the country, and demonstrators are blocking roads and stalling the airport. Social organizations and indigenous people organized protests because Castillo is the first member of Peru’s impoverished rural poor to become president and work against their political disenfranchisement. Vice President Dina Boluarte has replaced Castillo, and on December 14, the Boluarte government announced a national state of emergency, which suspends the right to assembly and free movement.

Human rights NGOs have criticized the government’s response and others have criticized the response by the Peruvian Armed Forces because of the history of troops killing protestors. Political turmoil in Peru has affected foreign tourism and investment, and there continues to be mass income inequality and an unpopular congress.