Peru is set to declare a state of emergency after at least one person was killed and dozens of police officers were injured in widespread protests against President José Jerí, who assumed power just days ago. Prime Minister Ernesto Alvarez announced late on Thursday that the government would declare the state of emergency in Lima within hours and is preparing a package of measures to tackle rising insecurity.
The protest on Wednesday night, called by Gen Z protesters, transport workers and civil groups, was the latest in a series of demonstrations against corruption and rising crime. These protests led to the dramatic midnight ouster of former President Dina Boluarte last Thursday. Thousands of protesters amassed around the country, with hundreds clashing with police outside Congress in Lima. Police fired teargas while some protesters hurled fireworks, rocks and burning objects.
A 32-year-old man, Eduardo Mauricio Ruiz, was killed during the protest. His death will be investigated, said Fernando Losada, a representative from the country’s ombudsman’s office. Peru’s prosecutor’s office said Ruiz died after being shot. President Jerí expressed regret over Ruiz’s death in a post on X, saying the death would be “objectively” investigated. He blamed violence on “delinquents who infiltrated a peaceful demonstration to sow chaos”.
After attending a meeting about the protests at Congress on Thursday afternoon, Jerí said he would ask Congress for “authority to legislate on public safety issues”. He said one focus would be prison reform, but did not elaborate on what those powers would entail. Newly appointed Interior Minister Vicente Tiburcio said the government would push for comprehensive reform to the national police, adding that 89 police and 22 civilians had been injured during the protest and 11 people were detained.
Wednesday’s protests were a bellwether for how Jerí’s nascent presidency – which ends next July due to scheduled elections – could play out. Jerí, 38, has promised to make crime his top priority but has faced a number of scandals, including corruption allegations and a now-shelved investigation for sexual assault. He has denied wrongdoing in both cases. Former President Boluarte faced widespread protests after she assumed power in late 2022, leading to dozens of deaths and a plunge in her popularity levels.
