CNN
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Peru’s new president Dina Boluarte During a televised speech early Monday morning amid ongoing nationwide protests, he proposed to push the general election two years forward to April 2024.
“I am interpreting the will of the citizens… I have decided to take the initiative to reach an agreement with the Congress of the Republic for the postponement of the general elections to April 2024,” Boluarte said in a televised speech.
Boluarte became Peru’s first female president last week after lawmakers dismissed her predecessor, Pedro Castillo.
He initially rejected early elections last week, but nationwide protests calling for political change have killed at least two people and prompted the United Nations Office of Human Rights to voice its concerns about escalating tensions.
“We are deeply concerned that the situation may escalate further as violence escalates as protests continue in Peru,” said Peruvian spokesperson Marta Hurtado. “Given the number of protests planned this week, including strikes, we urge all concerned to exercise restraint.”
Since last week, protests have erupted in cities across the country in support of Castillo, who is now under a seven-day preparatory detention by the Peruvian Supreme Court and has refused to accept his dismissal, calling Boluarte a “usurper”.
According to radio and television broadcaster Radio Programas del Perú, demonstrators called for a new general election, the dissolution of Congress and the creation of a new constituent assembly.
Protesters also held demonstrations in the city of Andahuaylas on Saturday, injuring at least 20 people, including four police officers, according to the Peruvian Ombudsman’s Office.
Peru’s Ministry of Health said two people died and three were hospitalized in the Apurímac Region, in Andahuaylas Province, as a result of the protests on Sunday evening.
Castillo insisted on Monday that he was still President of Peru, according to a series of tweets he posted on his Twitter account. He was accused of attempting to dissolve the country’s Congress and calling for new elections.
Part of the message read, “I am unconditionally bound by my popular and constitutional authority as President, and I will NOT resign OR LEFT MY HIGH AND HOLY DUTIES.”
Castillo also claimed he had been “abducted”, “humiliated” and “abused”, and called for his release, according to a handwritten letter also sent to his account Monday.
Castillo’s attorney, Ronald Atencio, confirmed the authenticity of the letter and tweets sent to CNN. The tweets were authorized by the former president to be written on his behalf.
The Alfredo Rodriguez Ballon airport in Peru’s largest southern city, Arequipa, on Monday was temporarily closed due to protests, according to a statement tweeted by Peru’s Andean Airports, the country’s Ministry of Transport and Communications.
“Our Alfredo Rodriguez Ballón airport, located in the city of Arequipa, was occupied by a group of protesters who entered through the surrounding fences, destroyed the security infrastructure and set fire to the security gate, putting the safety of our passengers, crew and crew at risk. Air operations are at risk,” read the statement.
Smoke was seen in the distance in footage from the scene as protesters walked along the airport runway.
The airport evacuated the terminal and later on Monday officials told local media that the situation was “under control”.
“The situation in Arequipa is under control, the police have control of the airport (inside).
In footage from the southern city of Ica, a vehicle overturned and protesters blocked the streets. It was seen that the police clashed with the demonstrators who were throwing stones at the forces.
On Sunday, at least 50 people, including police officers and airport workers, were being held as “hostages” by the Peruvian Airports Authority at the Andahuaylas airport at Huancabamba in the city of Andahuaylas, following attacks by protesters and “acts of vandalism” by protesters. and Commercial Aviation said in a statement.
The organization said the airport was closed as a result, adding that it has asked the national police for support and reinforcements and to help “protect the lives of the people held hostage”. The organization did not provide information about the situation of the hostages.
The Peruvian Airports and Commercial Aviation Authority accused protesters of setting fire to the airport’s transmission room, fuel room and surrounding the terminal. It also said the landing strip and essential equipment were “severely affected”.
The country has been on the brink of abyss since Castillo was ousted last week.
Many Peruvians are calling for a change in the political guard, according to a September survey by the Peruvian Studies Institute (IEP) that found that 60% of respondents support early elections to renew both the presidency and Congress.
Boluarte’s ascent to president may not necessarily alleviate Peru’s toxic and resentful political landscape.
Fernando Tuesta Soldevilla, a professor of political science at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP), told CNN that Boluarte “did not have a prominent political career.” And since there is no partisan support, political party or social organization behind it, it has been weak from the beginning.”
Everyone knows when Dina Boluarte’s government began, but no one knows how long it will last.
