Violent Unrest and Protests Spread as Peru Faces a Political Crisis

• Peru is facing a reckoning of its political future as violence and protests spread throughout the country, recently erupting in the heart of Peru's tourism region.

Spreading Violence

• Over 55 people have died so far in clashes between protestors and police, with human rights groups decrying the disproportionate use of force used by the police.
• Violent protests and social unrest have spread from Lima to Cusco and the Southern heartland of Peru's tourism region, leading to the evacuation of 400 tourists from Machu Picchu.

What Protesters Want

• Protestors in Lima and the Andean highlands, are demanding Congress be shut down and for President Boluarte to resign immediately.
• Protestors want general elections to be held immediately, three years ahead of schedule.
• Congress, under pressure, has voted to bring forward elections to April 2024, but this is far too late for the protesters, who consider Boluarte and Congress itself to be illegitimate.

Democracy Under Pressure

• The fast paced events that have seized Peru this winter have a long history in the country. Besides Castillo, one other president has been impeached and two have resigned since 2018 alone.
• Three out of four Peruvians disapproved of Castillo's presidency, and Boluarte's ascension to the role has proven just as divisive and unpopular.
• Most Peruvians were not in favor of Castillo's attempt to suspend the constitution, but they also disapprove of Congress, which is rife with corruption and self-serving officials and factions.
•  Foreign Policy has described Peru's various branches of government as having the legislative tools to overpower and undermine other branches of government, leading to ceaseless hostilities and standstills. For example. the president needs only two no confidence votes from legislators to shut Congress down.
• Foreign Affairs points out that democratic processes might still be a long way off in Peru:

"It is too easy for Congress to impeach the president and for the president to shut down Congress. Until reforms prevent the president and Congress from abusing their powers to rein in each other, Peru will continue to spiral." 

Should the U.S intervene? What steps can the international community take to help rebuild Peru's democratic institutions?

—Emma Kansiz

(Photo Credit: Twitter)