On 10 October, Congress removed Dina Boluarte from the office of President, on the grounds of ‘permanent moral incapacity’ pursuant to Article 113 of the Constitution. Boluarte’s approval ratings were significantly low throughout her presidency, hovering around 3 per cent more recently. Boluarte, who replaced former president Pedro Castillo after he was ousted for attempting to dissolve congress in December 2022, faced demands by protesters that she resign and call for early general elections since the beginning of her administration. More recent anti-government protests pointed to her administration’s inability to curb the insecurity crisis, including extortions and high murder rates. Corruption scandals and inquiries into protesters’ deaths between December 2022 and early 2023 further marred Boluarte’s presidency. José Jerí, president of the legislature, was sworn in by Congress as Boluarte’s interim successor, until new elections are held in April 2026 and the next president takes office in June that year.

Sources: El Peruano, El Comercio, La República, AP, NY Times, BBC, International IDEA, International IDEA, International IDEA

Large anti-government protests took place on 15 and 25 October, with protesters demanding the resignation of newly elected President José Jeri and members of Congress. Thousands of people, mostly in Lima but also in other regions, demonstrated against government inaction on corruption, abuse of authority, and persistent violent crime. During the 15 October mobilizations, a protester was reportedly killed by a member of the security forces, and inquiries into the death are underway. Jeri, who has signalled that he will take a hardline approach to curbing insecurity, decreed a state of emergency on 22 October, allowing the government to suspend certain rights, including freedom of movement and assembly, in Lima and Callao for 30 days.

Sources: CNN, BBC, Infobae, AP

Peru’s top prosecutor, Delia Espinoza, asked the Supreme Court to declare the Fuerza Popular (FP) party illegal. Espinoza asked that the party be excluded from next year’s general elections and its registration be cancelled. The request argued that the party, a legacy of Fujimorismo (the political movement of former president Alberto Fujimori) participated in anti-democratic acts, which is prohibited in the Political Organizations Law. It elaborated that the party legitimized the used of violence to intimidate public servants, civil society and journalists. FP is the party with the greatest number of representatives in Congress. Its leader, Keiko Fujimori, rejected the accusations as politically motivated, questioning the prosecutor’s impartiality (the prosecutor’s office has constitutional autonomy). The Constitutional Chamber will decide on the issue of the party’s registration.

Sources: El Comercio, La Republica (1), Infobae (1), La Republica (2), Infobae

In September, youth groups mobilized protests against the government and a recent reform to the pension system. The latter introduced changes requiring self-employed workers to contribute to private pension administrators—the private financial entities that manage the funds—and restricts, for those under 40, access to one of the current options, which is that a worker can choose to receive 95 per cent of their accumulated funds upon retirement instead of receiving a monthly pension. Though Congress had walked back the changes after public outrage, the demonstrations continued, with young people—also known as ‘Gen Z’—expressing frustration with decision-making affecting their future. More broadly, demonstrators demanded the government take action to curb insecurity and end corruption. Public transit operators and bus drivers, who have been raising alarms for over a year about the increasing extortion and violence they face, joined the protests. Clashes between demonstrators and police resulted in at least 18 injured, mostly protesters, and further reports of injuries among journalists and police officers.

On 13 August, a law entered into force through which amnesty will be granted to members of the security agencies on trial for human rights violations committed in the context of the internal armed conflict (1980-2000). The amnesty applies to members of the armed forces, national police, self-defense committees and to public officials under investigation without a final conviction. It also applies to those convicted over the age of 70 years on ‘humanitarian’ grounds. CSOs estimate that up to 600 people on trial and over a hundred who have been sentenced could benefit from the amnesty. Proponents of the bill have argued that those who defended the country from terrorism should not be subjected to decades-long investigation and trials. Human rights experts have condemned the bill, as amnesty for gross human rights violations is contrary to international law and standards and denies victims and their families access to justice and truth.

Sources: Diario El Peruano, OHCHR (1), OHCHR (2), El Comercio, CEJIL, El Pais, BBC

On 19 August, the Constitutional Tribunal ruled that investigations into President Dina Boluarte should be suspended until the end of her tenure in 2026. The Tribunal reasoned that inquiries into cases not considered in Article 117 of the Constitution, which establishes the cases in which members of the executive can be accused during their tenure (such as treason, preventing elections, or dissolving Congress) should be limited to taking a statement, information requests and presentation of supporting documentation. The Tribunal, however, reiterated that the process can continue after the end of her tenure. Critics argue that the ruling undermines accountability and anti-corruption efforts.

Sources: La Republica, El Comercio, Infobae, El Pais