Two other government officials resigned amid ongoing protests against Peru’s new government. The head of state, Dina Boluarte, immediately replaced the resigned Minister of the Interior, Victor Rojas, with Vicente Romero, a senior police officer who retired yesterday (local time). Women’s Minister Grecia Rojas was replaced by Nancy Tolentino following her resignation.
APA/AFP/Diego Ramos
The new Minister of Labor, Luis Alfonso Adrianzen, was also sworn in. His predecessor, Eduardo Garcia, resigned on Thursday over the government’s handling of the protests.
weeks of unrest
Peru has been wracked by unrest since the overthrow and arrest of leftist President Castillo on Dec. 7. Protesters demand the resignation of his successor Boluarte and the dissolution of parliament for immediate holding of new elections. 42 people have already died during the protests.
Prior to his resignation, Interior Minister Rojas had been heavily criticized for the use of force by the Peruvian police against demonstrators. His successor, Romero, was already Minister of the Interior in 2018 under then head of state Pedro Pablo Kuczynski.
The Peruvian police, meanwhile, announced the arrest of union leader Rocio Leandro, from the southern region of Ayacucho. He is accused of having contacts with Maoist rebels from the Sendero Luminoso guerrilla organization, helping to fund current anti-government protests and recruiting protesters.