“83 percent of Peruvians want early elections. Therefore, deputies, you must not look for a reason to reject early elections, you must not abstain from voting, vote directly, in the interest of the country,” Boluarte said on state television on Saturday.
“Abstention is a disguise. That people know who wants to leave and who wants to stay. No political vendettas, no personal interests, don’t play blind and do what the population demands of you,” the president urged.
“I demand that the vote be held again,” he said.
At the same time, Boluarte herself is not going to resign, as certain political forces demand. In his opinion, this will not solve the problem of the worsening socio-political situation in the country.
“Peru does not have time for political revenge. We will remain firm in our position until Congress decides to advance the elections,” he said.
As for the demands that Boluarte herself leave the presidency, he described them as a manifestation of machismo.
“Let’s put aside the macho concept. It may be a shame that for the first time a woman reaches the presidency of the republic. Let’s give women the opportunity to express themselves,” he said, quoted by El Comercio.
It is worth noting that the political disputes are being fought against the backdrop of the mass protests that have spread across the country. The riots have already killed 23 people and injured hundreds. Authorities imposed curfews in 15 provinces. The prohibition of free movement of citizens in the afternoon and night from December 16 and for five days applies to the departments of Angaraes, Andahuaylas, Arequipa, Viru, Ica, Cangallo, Carabaia, Convención, Cusco, Pisco, San Román, Taiyacaha, Chincheros, Chumbivilcas and Espinar.
Let us remember that on December 7, President Pedro Castillo dissolved Parliament, which was to consider the question of his impeachment for the third time. However, the deputies held the scheduled meeting and supported the initiative. As a result, Castillo was removed from power and arrested. By court decision last Thursday, he was sentenced to 18 months in pretrial detention for the case of an attempted coup d’état. The court considered that if Castillo remains a fugitive, there is a great risk of him escaping abroad (for example, Mexico is willing to grant him asylum).
In response to the congressional decision, thousands of Peruvians who support Castillo took to the streets. For the past 10 days, they have been blocking roads, seizing various businesses and vandalizing police stations.
In the context of the death of 23 people in clashes between protesters and the police, two ministers of the new government of Peru resigned: the Minister of Education, Patricia Correa, and the Minister of Culture, Jair Pérez Branes. According to them, they could not accept the death of the citizens.
