Peru’s President Dina Boluarte, whose country has been plagued by protests that have killed at least 42 people in five weeks, ruled out stepping down on Friday as protesters called for.
“Some pro-violent and radical voices are calling for my resignation and inciting chaos, disorder and destruction among the population. I tell them responsibly: I will not resign, my commitment is to Peru,” Ms. Boluarte affirmed in a message to the nation broadcast by state television.
Three members of Boluarte’s government resigned within two days: Labor Minister Eduardo Garcia, who disagreed with the government’s handling of the protests, Interior Minister Victor Rojas and Grecia Rojas, Minister for Women and Vulnerable Populations.
According to the People’s Defender (Ombudsman), at least 42 people have died in clashes between protesters and police since the crisis began, including a police officer who was burned alive by the crowd.
The protests erupted after the December 7 sacking and arrest of left-wing President Pedro Castillo, who was accused of attempting to stage a coup d’état by attempting to dissolve parliament in a bid to oust him from power.
Mrs. Boluarte, Mr. Castillo’s vice-president, succeeded him in accordance with the constitution. But the demonstrators, who see her as a “traitor”, are demanding her departure and immediate new elections.
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), which completed an inspection mission to Peru on Friday, called for an impartial investigation into the government’s crackdown on the demonstrations, citing evidence of “excessive use of force”.
Peru’s prosecutors have launched an investigation into “genocide” against Ms. Boluarte and several other senior officials.