The new president of Peru, Dina Boluarte, will propose to Congress to bring forward the elections to April 2024:
Interpreting in the broadest manner the will of the citizenry and consequently with the responsibility that the exercise of government action implies, I have decided to assume the initiative to reach an agreement with the Congress of the Republic to bring forward the general elections to April 2024. In the next few days, I will submit to Congress a bill to bring forward the general elections to be agreed with the political forces represented in parliament.
🇵🇪 President @DinaErcilia Boluarte in message to the nation: "The homeland is living difficult hours. Upon assuming the presidential command I pointed out that my government would seek dialogue, understanding, agreement and consensus among all and for all. Without exclusions." pic.twitter.com/h5gyeqzBft
- Presidency of Peru 🇵🇪 (@presidenciaperu) December 12, 2022
In addition, Boluarte stated that this government will promote the reform of the political system to prevent corruption:
The approval of this law to advance elections implies constitutional reforms, which should be approved by the most expeditious procedure contemplated by the Constitution. My government will promote the agreement of a law for the reform of the political system that will allow all Peruvians to have a more efficient, transparent and participatory democratic system of government, free from corruption.
Following Boluarte's statements, the President of the Congress, José Williams, announced in the plenary session this Sunday that the Board of Directors of the Parliament will meet this Wednesday to set a date to approve the electoral advance:
I hereby inform the members of Congress that the Direct Council will meet on Wednesday 14 to include in the agenda of the plenary session the constitutional reform project on the early elections.
The constitutional reform project to advance elections will be discussed this Wednesday, December 14, in a session of the Board of Directors of the Congress so that it can be agendized in the Plenary. pic.twitter.com/Y3bzWScui1
- José Williams Zapata (@Gral_Williams) December 12, 2022
After his intervention, Williams had to suspend this extraordinary plenary session after Pasión Dávila, a deputy of the party of Pedro Castillo and Dina Boluarte, hit one of his colleagues in the Chamber, Juan Burgos, a representative of the opposition.
#Peru 🇵🇪 | Fight in the Peruvian Congress: this is the moment when Congressman Pasión Dávila hit his colleague Juan Burgos from behind pic.twitter.com/wcNDqzS5mu
- Official ITR (@ITROriginal) December 12, 2022
Two dead in protests
At least two people were killed and more than 30 injured during protests in Peru following Pedro Castillo's failed coup d'état attempt. The two victims occurred in Andahuaylas, some 450 miles from Lima, when supporters of the former president attempted to storm the town's airport.
The governor of the Apurimac region, Baltazar Lantarón, confirmed one of the deaths. According to reports, a 15-year-old boy was shot in the neck. The other victim was an 18-year-old man.
LIVE | Baltazar Lantarón, governor of Apurímac confirms that demonstrations in his region leave one dead and 30 injured►https://t.co/g7mviXPQ7u pic.twitter.com/Q0dUAjHWm1
- TVPerú Noticias (@noticias_tvperu) December 11, 2022
Permanent stoppages
The institutional crisis and the wave of protests against the new president of Peru caused 14 areas of the country to declare a state of ongoing strikes that will begin this Tuesday until the Congress is closed and an early election is called.
As the political crisis intensifies in #Peru 🇵🇪, following the arrest of former President @PedroCastilloTe, several sectors of society called for this Tuesday 12 and Wednesday 13 of #DEC to a day of #ParoNacionalhttps://t.co/AWenZjyUxg
- teleSUR TV (@teleSURtv) December 10, 2022
Incidents at airports and on highways
Following these events, the Peruvian Corporation of Airports and Commercial Aviation (Corpac) announced the closure of the Andahuaylas airport due to "attacks and acts of vandalism" that occurred in several of the infrastructures:
The Andahuaylas airport is closed because it has suffered attacks and acts of vandalism, affecting the runway and equipment that are indispensable for providing air navigation services.
In addition, picketers blocked the Panamericana Norte highway, which connects Lima with the border of Ecuador.
