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Deadly protests in Lima after lawmakers reject early elections: Peru

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
29 Jan 2023 09:31
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The Ombudsman's Office of Peru reports the death of one protester in Lima without specifying how the death occurred.

Demonstrators take part in a protest to demand Boluarte's removal, in Lima, Peru, January 28, 2023 (Reuters)

One protester died Saturday in Peru's capital, Lima, in clashes with police near Congress after lawmakers rejected a request by Peru's embattled President Dina Boluarte to bring elections forward.

The South American country has been embroiled in a political crisis with near-daily protests since December 7, when former leftist President Pedro Castillo was arrested after attempting to dissolve Congress and rule by decree.

In seven weeks of demonstrations, 48 people, including one police officer, have been killed in clashes between security forces and protesters, according to the Ombudsman's Office of Peru.

In the early hours of Saturday, lawmakers had rejected Boluarte's request to move the elections forward to December.

The Ombudsman's Office reported the latest fatality on Twitter, saying that "we regret the death of Victor Santisteban Yacsavilca in the violent demonstrations today," without specifying how the death had occurred.

Boluarte on Saturday urged politicians to "put down their partisan interests and place the interests of Peru above them."

"We regret that the Congress of the Republic has been unable to define the date of general elections where Peruvians can freely and democratically elect the new authorities," she said on Twitter.

Lawmakers had agreed last month to bring forward elections from 2026 to April 2024. But in the face of relentless protests, Boluarte on Friday urged Congress to move the vote up further, to December. However, at a plenary session that ended early Saturday, Congress rejected the proposal, with 45 votes in favor, 65 against, and two abstentions.

Demonstrators are calling for immediate elections, as well as Boluarte's removal, the dissolution of Congress, and a new constitution.

"Nobody has any interest in clinging to power," Boluarte claimed on Friday. "If I am here it is because I fulfilled my constitutional responsibility," she added.