Peru is set to declare a state of emergency after one fatality occurred and dozens of police officers were injured in massive demonstrations against the newly installed president, inaugurated only a few days prior.
Official Measures
Prime minister Ernesto Alvarez said late on Thursday that authorities would enact emergency protocols for the capital within hours and is preparing a package of measures to address escalating safety concerns.
Wednesday evening's demonstration – organized by youth activists, transportation unions, and civic organizations – was the latest in a series of demonstrations targeting graft and increasing lawlessness, which led to the dramatic midnight ouster of former president Dina Boluarte last Thursday.
Protest Dynamics
Mass gatherings formed nationwide, with hundreds clashing with police outside congress in Lima. Police fired teargas while demonstrators launched pyrotechnics, projectiles, and incendiary devices.
"All must leave!" demonstrators shouted upon arriving at the legislature and attempted to breach security barricades protecting the building.
Victims and Inquiry
Eduardo Mauricio Ruiz, aged 32, was killed during the protest and authorities pledged to examine the circumstances, stated a human rights representative, from the national oversight institution. The nation's judicial authorities confirmed the victim sustained fatal gunshot wounds.
Government Position
Jerí expressed regret over Ruiz's death in a post on X, promising an impartial inquiry. He blamed violence on "delinquents who infiltrated a peaceful demonstration to sow chaos".
"Legal consequences will be severe," he affirmed.
Following legislative discussions regarding the demonstrations, the president requested expanded powers to address security matters.
Proposed Reforms
Jerí said one focus would be prison reform, but did not elaborate on what those powers would entail.
Recently installed security chief Vicente Tiburcio told the unicameral congress that the government would push for comprehensive reform to the national police, noting significant injury counts among both officers and citizens and multiple individuals faced arrest.
Governing Challenges
The recent demonstrations served as an indicator for how Jerí's nascent presidency – concluding with upcoming electoral proceedings – could play out.
The 38-year-old leader has promised to make crime his top priority but encountered multiple controversies, involving graft accusations and a now-shelved investigation for sexual assault. Jerí has denied wrongdoing in both cases and pledged full cooperation with oversight proceedings.
Previous Administration
The previous administration faced widespread protests after she assumed power in late 2022, leading to dozens of deaths and catastrophic approval rating decline, which oscillated between 2% and 4% in the days leading up to her ouster.
The legislative body previously led by the current president faces comparable public disapproval, with a single-digit approval rating.
