Political parties and social movements in Peru demonstrated this Thursday to demand a constituent assembly and new elections to overcome the political crisis the South American country is going through.
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Supporters of former President Pedro Castillo, who is in prison after his impeachment by Congress last Wednesday, demonstrated in the streets of Lima, the country’s capital, against the nomination of Dina Boluarte as president.
Political groups such as the New Peru Movement have called for bringing forward general elections and convening a constituent assembly to draft a new Magna Carta.
These organizations do not accept the ceasefire that Boluarte has demanded from the opposition groups, because they indicate that it would implement policies that do not favor the popular classes.
Lucía Alvites, a sociologist and activist from Nuevo Perú, told teleSUR that the far-right’s strategy based on racism and classism to “break the will of the population and remove Castillo from executive branch (power)” bore fruit on Wednesday .
He claimed that the new president’s call for a ceasefire “hides in practice a pact with the coup sectors that have handcuffed democracy and are blowing up what’s left of it.”
“What we propose is that new elections be called with new rules; They need a referendum where the people can push through certain reforms and give power back to the people and ask them if they want a new constitution,” Alvites said.
teleSUR Peru worker Jaime Herrera said that in several provinces, especially in the south of the country such as Arequipa, Cusco and Ayacucho, social organizations have called to mobilize people to go not only to their places of origin but to Lima and to protest Castillo’s imprisonment and call for new elections.
Now from Peru: Police use force and gas against demonstrators in Plaza San Martín, they reject the government of Dina Boluarte, an unconfirmed deceased … Violence always comes with the coup! pic.twitter.com/H8LcSQXign
— DΛViD.cu (@David_qva)
December 9, 2022
Local media reported that citizens held several demonstrations this Thursday in various areas of the country, such as the Panamerica Sur highway, Ica, Arequipa and Tacna, demanding the closure of Congress and the call for new elections.
Wake up Peruvians and Peruvians
ON THE STREETS. SAN MARTIN SQUARE TOMORROW 3 P.M.
Constant appeal to all civil organizations, unions, students, workers, farmers and indigenous communities.
NOW ELECTIONS!!! pic.twitter.com/qkqQzIupTr— TITO WANKA (@titowankalaw)
December 9, 2022
Videos were broadcast on social networks showing police officers attacking demonstrators who had gathered in Plaza San Martín in the historic center of Lima this Thursday evening.