Leaders | Latin American democracy

Peru needs an early election and outside support, not interference

A self-serving Congress and some neighbouring countries are fanning the flames

TOPSHOT - Policemen grab a woman during a demonstration against the government of Peruvian President Dina Boluarte in Lima on January 31, 2023. - Protesters who have brought parts of Peru to a standstill for weeks closed in on Lima's international airport Tuesday as lawmakers mulled bringing elections forward in a bid to end the deadly mobilization. The South American country has been embroiled in a political crisis with near-daily demonstrations since December 7, when then-president Pedro Castillo was arrested after attempting to dissolve Congress and rule by decree. (Photo by ERNESTO BENAVIDES / AFP) (Photo by ERNESTO BENAVIDES/AFP via Getty Images) — Image: Getty Images

Feb 2nd 2023

IT BEGAN ON December 7th when Pedro Castillo, then the president of Peru, abruptly announced on television that he was ordering the dissolution of Congress, dominated by his opponents, and a takeover of the judiciary, which was investigating him for corruption. For Peruvians the announcement brought bad memories. In 1992 another president, Alberto Fujimori, carried out a similar “self-coup” against Peru’s democratic institutions, sending the army to do the job. Mr Castillo had no such support and he was swiftly arrested. Congress impeached him for breaking the constitution and appointed Dina Boluarte, his elected vice-president, in his stead.

This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “Dousing the fire”