Peru's Congress Rejects Early Elections Request; Another Protester Dies as Political Tension Continues
Peru's Congress has rejected a request for early elections as the country continues to face political instability and growing unrest across the country.
Recently appointed president of the country, Dina Boluarte, requested to forward the presidential elections from April 2024 to December 2023 as civil unrest continues opposing her presidency after Pedro Castillo was impeached and arrested.
Last month, Peru's Congress agreed to bring forth the elections from 2026 to April 2024. However, Congress then rejected the bid for a December 2023 election, with 45 votes in favor, 65 against, and two abstentions, according to Al Jazeera.
Congress President Jose Williams announced the result of the deliberations after more than seven hours of debate.
Williams then received a request for reconsideration after the vote. It will be debated on Monday in a new session. However, it would be difficult to reverse the initial decision.
Protesters have been clamoring for the removal of Boluarte from the presidency, immediate elections after the dissolution of Congress, and a new constitution.
Boluarte said that she has no interest in keeping the presidency but was staying in office "because I fulfilled my constitutional responsibility."
READ NEXT: Peru President Dina Boluarte Supports Moving up National Elections to Later This Year
Another Protester Died in Peru Protests
Another protester died in Lima, Peru's capital, with others hospitalized after protests continued and protesters and police resumed clashes amid the country's civil unrest.
The protester who died was identified as Victor Santisteban Yacsavilca, 55. His death brings the nationwide death toll to 58 since early December after Castillo was removed from the position, according to Reuters.
Santisteban suffered a severe head injury, according to the national health insurance agency's statement.
Some protests across the nation escalated after demonstrators armed themselves with rocks and makeshift shields, with police deploying gas and rubber bullets.
Boluarte's office expressed disappointment in Congress' refusal to advance early elections.
The president has called for early elections as protests across the country do not seem to be dwindling down.
Boluarte's office said in a tweet that they are urging lawmakers to put aside "their partisan and group interest "and think about the interest of Peru first.
Protests in Peru
Officials said that roadblocks were placed across Peru by demonstrators, with police and military preparing to mount a joint operation, according to defense and interior ministries.
The interior ministry noted in a tweet that it is a crime to block communication routes.
The ministry further reported that 10 people had already died after ambulances could not get through roadblocks, according to BBC News.
Two deaths were reported due to the blockades in the La Libertad region, according to Peru's human rights watchdog.
The deaths in the area were identified to be a 51-year-old woman and a teenager who lost her pregnancy.
Aside from the increasing death toll, the blockades also resulted in shortages of fuel and food across several regions in Peru.
Boluarte called for a "national truce," which protesters responded to by launching more protests in the streets of Peru's capital.
READ MORE: Peru's New President Dina Boluarte Faces Genocide Probe Amid Deadly Protests
This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Mary Webber
WATCH: Peru in constitutional crisis as President Castillo deposed after attempt to dissolve Parliament - from Global News
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