Peru Anti-government Protesters Clash With Police In Capital Lima

Peru anti-government protesters clash with police in Peru's capital Lima, as thousands of people took part in marches across the country aiming for the president’s removal.

Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Peru's capital to demand the resignation of President Pedro Castillo, who is under investigation for corruption.

On Saturday, people marched through Lima toward parliament and the government palace until dozens of riot police fired tear gas to disperse them. There were no reports of injuries at the time.

Peru Anti-government Protesters Clash With Police Embattling The President

COPYRIGHT_WI: Published on https://washingtonindependent.com/peru-anti-government-protesters-clash-with-police/ by William Willis on 2022-11-07T12:00:59.142Z

On Saturday, November 5, 2022, demonstrators protesting against Peruvian President Pedro Castillo clashed with police in Lima, the country's capital.

Protesters want embattled President Pedro Castillo to resign in the face of corruption allegations. The left-wing leader, who came to power unexpectedly last year, is the subject of six criminal investigations, but he denies any wrongdoing.

Peru is dealing with a number of economic issues, including rising living costs. According to the World Bank, the country was disproportionately hard hit by Covid-19, and poverty is expected to remain above pre-pandemic levels for the next two years.

Castillo ran for president on a platform of closing the wealth gap, but a Congress dominated by opposition lawmakers has stymied many of his plans.

Thousands of people marched against the government across the country, while riot police used tear gas to disperse demonstrators in Lima.

During the protests, police on horses attempted to prevent the procession from approaching the government palace. According to reports, police used tear gas to disperse the aggressive protestors after they reacted violently to them.

Castillo's Reaction With The Protests

Castillo, a former rural teacher, unexpectedly won the presidency last year against right-wing candidate Keiko Fujimori, the former president's eldest daughter.

Since then, the opposition attempted to impeach him twice. Furthermore, in October, the country's attorney general filed a constitutional complaint against Castillo with Congress. According to the complaint, he is a "perpetrator of crimes against the public peace in the form of a criminal organization, exacerbated by his position as leader."

The president is immune from prosecution in Peruvian law while in office, with the three exceptions of treason, dissolving Congress, or blocking elections. The corruption investigations into Castillo and his close family and aides make the leader's survival even more important.

All allegations have been categorically denied by the president. "They will have me until the end of my term because my people have decided so," Castillo said at the government palace on Saturday, November 5, 2022.

He denies that his family has committed crimes and claims that he is the victim of a campaign to depose him.

Previous Protests

Meanwhile, hundreds of protesters marched in October to call on Congress to impeach President Pedro Castillo. According to the Associated Press, the demonstrators marched calmly alongside a police line until they approached the Government Palace grounds, which had a police barricade. Several people clashed with police in an attempt to gain access to Castillo's palace.

Protesters took to the streets of Lima on August 13 to express their opposition to President Pedro Castillo's government, which is the subject of numerous corruption investigations. A large crowd marched to the General Attorney's office to demand Castillo resign.

Conclusion

Peru anti-government protesters clash with police in the attempt to impeach President Castillo. Castillo, who took office in July last year, has already survived two impeachment attempts. Even though Congress recognized that a new trial against the president would not garner enough votes, opposition legislators are pushing for one.

He denies that his family has committed crimes and claims that he is the victim of a campaign to depose him.

About The Authors

William Willis - William Willis is a freelance writer and social media manager who specializes in assisting finance professionals and Fintech entrepreneurs in growing their online audience and attracting more paying customers. William worked as a bank teller and virtual assistant for financial firms in the United States and the United Kingdom for six years before beginning her writing career. William is a strong force in the workplace, inspiring others to work hard and excel with his optimistic attitude and boundless energy. He enjoys hiking, crocheting, and playing video games with his children in his spare time.