Thousands of Peruvians took to the streets of Lima to demand the closure of Congress

LIMA – Thousands of Peruvians from different regions of the country protested Thursday, the 10th, in the historic center of the capital to demand the closure of Congress and to express their opposition to the government’s opposition. Pedro CastilloIn a rally entitled “Taking Lima”. Dozens of riot police prevented protesters from reaching Congress by firing tear gas.

Wearing white and red flags, carrying posters and wearing hats typical of the provinces, many people demonstrated in Lima to defend, in their opinion, the governance of the country, which is plagued by a complex political situation and tensions between the executive and legislative branches. .

Castillo, who has been in power since July 2021 for a five-year term, has faced two impeachment attempts by the opposition-dominated Congress and is responding to six tax investigations into alleged corruption by him, his closest family members and a political group.

Prosecutors formally denounced Castillo before Parliament on October 11 for alleged corruption, a process that could lead to a political trial and the arrest of the president. Castillo, a 53-year-old rural teacher, denies that his family committed crimes and says he is the victim of a campaign to oust him from power.

“We came here to support our friend the president because they don’t let him work, they don’t know how to respect him,” Maritza Aguilar, one of the protesters, told EFE.

The protester traveled to the capital with others from the Tumbes region in the north to protest against Parliament, which she described as “scum” dedicated “only” to accusing Castillo of “her imagination and malice”, referring to accusations of corruption.

“Idle mice, go home,” shouted the demonstrators, “Urgently, shut down Congress,” “This is the strength of Castillo, always on your feet, never on your knees.”

The protest began in Saint Martin Square and continued towards the Parliament House, the perimeter of which was controlled by a large police unit that dispersed the demonstrators.

“We know that this corrupt and putschist Congress wants to stage a coup against our president, who was democratically elected by the people,” said protester Espuma Guerra.

“We demand that Congress respect the rule and we demand peace because this government should finish five years,” added Guerra, who expressed his rejection of the third article of impeachment prepared by many opposition lawmakers.

But the protesters were not satisfied with criticizing the legislature. Some posters have also called for a new constitution or the resignation of Attorney General Patricia Benavides, who is investigating Castillo.

Nor was there a lack of criticism of the press in Lima, in line with the speeches of the head of state and his ministers, who repeatedly denounced a kind of “conspiracy” between a sector of the press, the opposition and the judiciary in order to remove Castillo from power.

The mainstream press is being targeted. “It’s just a misrepresentation of the truth,” said Humberto Victor Franco, a journalist from the Trujillo region in the north of the country.

Several social, union and political organizations called for the “capture of Lima,” five days after another demonstration in Lima and other cities in which thousands of Peruvians demanded Castillo’s resignation or impeachment.

Social polarization and friction between branches of government have been ongoing in Peru since last year’s general election, but it has intensified in recent weeks after the constitutional complaint filed in Parliament by Attorney General Benavides against the president for allegedly leading a criminal organization.

Against this background, Castillo requested the application of the Inter-American Democratic Charter to the Organization of American States (OAS)Which will send a mission to the country next week to analyze the tense political situation in the country./ EFE and AFP