Peru’s President Dina Boluarte Refuses To Step Down, Calls On Lawmakers To Bring Forward Elections

President Boluarte said she would not step down in the face of violent protests over her predecessor's ouster

President Dina Boluarte

Source : AFP

New Delhi: Peru’s President Dina Boluarte refused to resign on Saturday and demanded the Congress to bring forward the elections, news agency AFP reported.

According to the report, President Boluarte said she would not step down in the face of violent protests over her predecessor's ouster and called on the lawmakers to bring forward elections as a way to quell the ongoing unrest.

Pressure rose on Peru’s government as two cabinet members resigned after the deadly protests that have rocked the country since former president Pedro Castillo’s removal from office and arrest last week.

On Friday, Education Minister Patricia Correa and Culture Minister Jair Perez resigned via Twitter, citing the deaths of victims during the protests.

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Taking to Twitter, Correa wrote, “This morning I presented my letter of resignation from the position of education minister. The death of compatriots has no justification. State violence cannot be disproportionate and cause death.”

Notably, Castillo’s ouster has triggered angry protests, with demonstrators calling for early elections, the closure of Congress, a constituent assembly, and the resignation of new president Dina Boluarte.

Amid rising protests, major routes blocked and airports were forced to close on Friday.

At least 17 people have been killed in the protests so far, and at least five more have died as a result of the indirect repercussions, BBC reported citing Police statements. 

It is to be noted that Peru has been in political instability for years, with successive governments accused of corruption, impeachment attempts on a regular basis, and presidential terms cut short.

The country has had a number of presidents deposed and former presidents imprisoned for crimes committed while in power. The country has three presidents in five days during one remarkable week in 2020.