Status: 12/19/2022 08:29 a.m
In view of the violent protests in Peru, the new interim president Boluarte wants to reshuffle the cabinet. She wanted to do something about “social dissatisfaction” and open a “dialogue”.
Peru’s interim president, Dina Boluarte, is planning a cabinet reshuffle after violent protests against the impeachment of her predecessor, Pedro Castillo. Among other things, she wants to fill the post of prime minister, Boluarte said in an interview. She wants to “counter social dissatisfaction” and “build bridges of dialogue”. The cabinet reshuffle should be implemented by Tuesday.
Head of cabinet only ten days in office
The head of cabinet is also called prime minister in Peru, but is only the highest-ranking minister and not the head of government in the South American country. Pedro Angulo has only held this post for around ten days.
Boluarte has only been interim president for a few days. Your predecessor Castillo had previously tried to forestall a vote of no confidence in Parliament by dissolving Congress. His cabinet and the opposition then accused him of a coup d’etat. Castillo was removed from office on December 7, arrested and remanded in custody.
In the south and south-east of Peru, where the former village school teacher has a particularly large number of supporters, but also in the capital Lima, there have been protests against his dismissal and clashes between demonstrators and the police. At least 17 people were killed, according to the Office of the Human Rights Ombudsman, and another five people were killed in traffic accidents and other incidents related to roadblocks.
Boluarte’s government declared a 30-day state of emergency and declared a five-day night curfew in 15 provinces. Education Minister Patricia Correa and Culture Minister Jair Pérez resigned over the deaths. Air and train traffic has been suspended in parts of the Andean country.
Angulo: Protests die down
The previous head of government, Angulo, has meanwhile reported that the protests are abating. “The measures we have taken are working,” he said. “The violence of the people who demonstrated on the streets is decreasing.”
The US called on the Peruvian government to undertake political reforms. Pope Francis also called on the conflicting parties in Peru to engage in dialogue.