(Lima) Peru’s President Dina Boluarte said on Saturday she would remain in office and asked Congress to bring forward general elections to end the crisis and protests sparked by the impeachment of her predecessor, Pedro Castillo.
“What would my resignation solve? We will stay here, firm, until the Congress decides to bring forward the elections. […] I ask that we reconsider the vote” of Friday, when the Parliament decided against the advancement of the general elections from 2026 to 2023.
Congress President Jose Williams said on Friday that the vote should be reconsidered in an upcoming session.
In a televised message to the nation, Mr. Boluarte lamented the violent protests that began on December 7 and left at least 18 people dead, including minors.
Some of these deaths occurred after clashes with the military, authorized to control internal security as part of the establishment of the state of emergency.
It is only through calm, cordiality and a sincere and open dialogue that we will be able to work […] How can we fight among Peruvians, mess up our institutions, block the roads?
Dina Boluarte, President of Peru
The president explained that if the armed forces took to the streets, “it was to take care of and protect” the citizens “because this situation (the demonstrations) was getting out of control” with “violent groups”.
“These groups did not appear overnight, they had tactically organized roadblocks,” she added.
Protesters demand the release of deposed President Pedro Castillo, the resignation of Mme Boluarte, the closure of Parliament and immediate general elections.
The most intense protests have been in Peru’s poverty-stricken southern Andean region, where social grievances have been put on hold.
Mme Boluarte, from Apurímac, one of the conflict zones, delivered part of his message in Quechua, a language spoken by a large Andean part of the country.
The protests erupted after Mr. Castillo, a left-wing, rural and modest-income teacher, tried to stage a self-coup on December 7, shut down parliament, intervene in public authorities and to govern by decree.
He was arrested in “flagrante delicto” while trying to reach the Mexican embassy to seek asylum.
Justice decided Thursday that he would remain in prison for 18 months, until June 2024, in order to be charged with rebellion.