A protest against the Peruvian government ended in clashes with police and at least 75 people were injured.
LIMA - A youth-led protest against Peru's newly installed government and Congress following the impeachment of Dina Boluarte ended in clashes near the headquarters of the Legislative Branch in Lima, with at least 75 people injured , including many police officers. A crowd marched in the center of the Peruvian capital to protest the political class and the wave of extortion and murders perpetrated by organized crime.
The security crisis precipitated the removal of President Dina Boluarte in a swift impeachment trial on October 10. As a result, right-wing José Jerí, 38, who was previously the speaker of parliament, assumed power temporarily until July 2026, when he must hand over power to the person elected in next year's general elections. Peru has gone through seven governments in the last decade, including the one that replaced the unpopular Boluarte.
Before the unexpected change of president, Generation Z, a group of young people aged 18 to 30, and artists' and public transportation unions had called for this Wednesday's protest . As night fell, protesters attempted to tear down the security barriers that had been installed outside Congress.
Police forces dispersed them with tear gas and charged with shields and batons against the groups that threw stones and fireworks. According to Jerí's X account, at least 55 police officers were injured , while 20 civilians were also reported injured.
Protests against the political class and insecurity have intensified in Lima for a month, but this is the most violent yet . "I think there's general discontent because nothing has been done. There's no security plan from the state," said 49-year-old self-employed worker Amanda Meza, as she marched toward Congress.
“Citizen insecurity, extortion, and contract killings have grown enormously in Peru,” the woman added, amid cries from the crowd, “Not one more death.”
With Wednesday's clashes , at least 149 people were injured during the latest protests, including uniformed personnel, protesters, and journalists, according to authorities and independent sources.
Meanwhile, President Jerí denounced that the "peaceful demonstration" was infiltrated by criminals " to create chaos ." "The full weight of the law will be on them," he warned.
This Wednesday, feminist organizations also mobilized against the new president, following a complaint alleging rape in December 2024, when Jerí was a legislator. The complaint was dismissed by the prosecutor's office in August due to lack of evidence, according to the Public Ministry.
However, the activists displayed a large Peruvian flag with the phrase “ President of Peru José Jerí rapist ” in black letters.
Generation Z leads the protest movement, waving the One Piece flag in its marches, the new symbol of global youth protest against bad government wherever it exists.
With information from AFP.
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