President Voluarte “General and presidential elections could be held next year”
The Peruvian government has declared a state of emergency following protests against the impeachment of former Peruvian president Pedro Castillo.
According to local media such as El Comercio, Peruvian Defense Minister Luis Alberto Otarola said on the 14th (local time): “We have decided to declare a national emergency in response to acts of destruction and violence.” As a result, gatherings and free movement are prohibited for 30 days and house searches by the police are permitted without a warrant.
In Peru, political turmoil continues after Congress passed an impeachment motion against former President Castillo on the 7th and Vice President Dina Voluarte succeeded to the presidency. Supporters of former President Castillo are calling for the impeachment to be reversed, the release of former President Castillo, a snap general election and a snap presidential election, while blocking roads and setting fire to cars. Protesters attacked the runway of Arequipa International Airport, Peru’s gateway to tourism, and the airport was closed. At least seven people were killed and hundreds injured, including 200 police officers, during the week-long protests.
President Voluarte that day called for restraint on the protesters and announced that general and presidential elections could be held in December next year. Earlier on the 12th, President Voluarte announced that he would bring forward the general and presidential elections originally scheduled for April 2026 to April 2024 by two years as part of a measure to calm public sentiment.
The Peruvian court was expected to examine the prosecution’s request for an 18-month extension of the detention of former president Castillo, who was arrested on rebellion charges after he passed the impeachment bill, but deferred it, it said the Associated Press.
