At least one person was killed and dozens of police officers injured as widespread protests erupted across Peru on Wednesday night against the new administration of President Jose Jeri, who took office just days ago following the ouster of Dina Boluarte.
The state ombudsman’s office confirmed on Thursday that 32-year-old Eduardo Mauricio Ruiz died during the demonstrations, which turned violent in parts of Lima.
Peru’s prosecutor’s office said Ruiz was shot, while Police Chief Oscar Arriola later told reporters that Luis Magallanes, a police officer, had carried out the shooting after being physically assaulted.
Magallanes has been hospitalized and suspended from duty pending investigations.
President Jeri expressed regret over Ruiz’s death in a post on X, pledging an “objective” investigation. He blamed the violence on “delinquents who infiltrated a peaceful demonstration to sow chaos,” adding that “the full force of the law will be on them.”
Thousands of protesters, including Gen Z youth groups, transport workers, and civil society organizations, took to the streets in Lima and other cities, denouncing corruption, rising crime, and political instability.
Demonstrators clashed with police outside Congress, where officers fired tear gas as protesters hurled fireworks, rocks, and burning debris while chanting, “Everyone must go!”
Prime Minister Ernesto Alvarez announced that the government would declare a state of emergency in Lima within hours and introduce new measures to combat insecurity.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Vicente Tiburcio told Congress the government would pursue a comprehensive police reform, revealing that 89 police officers and 22 civilians were injured, and 11 people detained during the protests.
Jeri, 38, said he would ask Congress for authority to legislate on public safety issues, with a focus on prison reform, though details were not provided.
His fledgling presidency, which runs until July 2026, faces a major test as unrest spreads and public trust in institutions remains at historic lows.
Jeri’s rise followed the dramatic midnight impeachment of former President Dina Boluarte last Thursday amid corruption scandals and mounting public anger over insecurity.
Her presidency, which began in 2022, was marred by deadly protests and approval ratings as low as 2%.
With both the presidency and Congress deeply unpopular, the latest protests underscore Peru’s persistent political turmoil and public frustration with corruption, police abuses, and social inequality.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
