Peru's President Exhorts Congress to Approve Early Elections

Dina Boluarte, the interim president of Peru, reprimanded legislators for not supporting calls for early elections as a way out of a worsening political situation brought on by Pedro Castillo's attempt to shut down Congress.

At an early-morning press conference on Saturday, a stubborn Boluarte rejected calls from some protesters to quit, contending that doing so would not address the pressing issues affecting Peru's rural areas, such as the worst drought in 50 years, and would instead further destabilise the nation.

Instead, she criticised Congress for failing on Friday to secure enough support to pass her proposal for a constitutional change, which would've pushed back elections from December 2026 to December 2023.

She called on lawmakers to reconsider their position, citing opinion polls that more than 80% of Peruvians want general elections — for both president and Congress — to stabilize the country.

"Don't be blind," Boluarte said in some of her strongest rhetoric since taking over from Castillo 10 days ago. "Look at the people and take action in line with what they are asking."

Following Castillo's ouster from office by lawmakers last week, protests that have expanded across Peru have claimed at least 20 lives and injured more than 500 protesters and security personnel. The country, which has had six presidents in as many years, is now more unstable than ever as a result of the crisis.