Peru’s Congress voted to impeach former President Dina Boluarte last Friday (October 10), appointing the current Congress leader José Jerí as interim president until elections in April next year. However, in his few days in office, he failed to quell public anger towards the political elite, with large crowds returning to the streets of Lima to protest on Wednesday (15th).
This marks the first nationwide wave of protests since the new Peruvian president took office. Led by the “Z Generation,” young demonstrators successfully rallied thousands of Peruvians in Lima and other cities, expressing anger over the government’s long-standing corruption and failure to address the escalating crime crisis. They demanded the resignation of the president and lawmakers, as well as the repeal of laws deemed favorable to criminal organizations.
Wednesday’s protests took place across the country, with the most intense clashes occurring in the capital Lima. As night fell, some protesters attempted to breach security barriers around the Congress building, with some individuals throwing rocks and setting off fireworks. Riot police later dispersed the crowd with tear gas. The clashes ultimately resulted in one fatality and over a hundred injuries, including 89 police officers and 22 civilians.
Local authorities later confirmed that the 32-year-old victim, rapper Eduardo Ruíz, was shot and killed by a police officer during the confrontation.
In the face of the chaos, Jerí refused to resign on Thursday (October 16), stating via X platform that what was initially a peaceful protest was infiltrated by criminals with intentions to cause disruption, leading to violent clashes. He insisted, “My responsibility is to maintain the stability of the country; this is my duty and commitment.”
The new Peruvian government has declared a state of emergency in Lima to address the ongoing violence incited by organized crime and the large-scale protests.