President Dina Boluarte of Peru is currently facing widespread demonstrations that have claimed the lives of hundreds of people, and she asked Congress to move elections up to December 2023. Lawmakers reached a consensus last month to move elections up from 2026 to April 2024. Congress, however, voted against the plan in a Saturday morning plenary session, 45 to 65, with two members abstaining. Protesters have regularly asked for a constitutional convention, and left-leaning parties have now urged that it come along with the acceleration of elections.
After more than seven hours of deliberation, Congress President Jose Williams said, “With this vote, the constitutional change proposal for the advancement of elections is rejected.” Williams received a “reconsideration” request after the vote, which might be discussed in a fresh session on Monday but would likely not result in a reversal of the judgment. Since former President Pedro Castillo was jailed on December 7 for attempting to dissolve Congress and govern by decree, the South American country has been mired in a political crisis marked by near-daily protests. Protesters are calling for Boluarte’s resignation, the dissolution of Congress, and fresh elections as well as a new constitution. There is absolutely no reason for me to continue serving as president. Boluarte stated, “If I am here, it is because I did my job as president, as required by the Constitution.” Boluarte was Castillo’s vice president, and when Castillo was impeached and incarcerated, it was Boluarte who was required by the constitution to assume the presidency.
Protesters — mostly Castillo supporters in impoverished and rural regions — have created barricades on roads in an effort to force Boluarte to quit and call elections. This has led to shortages of food, petrol, and other necessities. According to the Peruvian Ombudsman’s Office, 47 people have been murdered in the seven weeks of protests after the arrest of the former president. Ten other people, including two infants, were killed as a result of collateral damage, according to the independent human rights office, because they were unable to reach hospitals or pharmacies for treatment.
