Protester dies in Lima as Peru’s crisis continues

A man in Peru’s capital Lima has died and others were hospitalised as nationwide clashes between protesters and police continued in the eighth week of the South American country’s political crisis.

The death of Victor Santisteban Yacsavilca, 55, on Saturday brought the nationwide toll in the protests that began in early December after the impeachment and arrest of President Pedro Castillo to 58.

Initially focused in Peru’s rural, mountainous south, protests have gained steam in the capital in recent weeks. Saturday’s protests were mostly in Lima and the southern Cusco region, Peru’s ombudsman said in a statement.

Santisteban had suffered a severe head injury, the national health insurance agency said in a statement.

Some protests escalated as demonstrators armed with rocks and makeshift shields clashed with police, who deployed gas and rubber bullets.

Peru’s ombudsman condemned reports of attacks against journalists covering the protests.

President Dina Boluarte expressed regret early on Saturday after Congress refused to speed up the timeline for a presidential election amid the unrest, her office said.

Lawmakers had given an initial green light to move elections from 2026 to 2024, but on Friday voted down proposals to hold the election this year.

Boluarte has repeatedly backed moving up elections as she struggles to quell the protests calling for her resignation.

A motion to move elections up to April 2024 passed one vote and has a final vote in February. Congress will continue the debate on Monday.

On Friday Boluarte said an election could happen this year.

“We urge lawmakers to put down their partisan and group interests and put the interest of Peru first. Our citizens promptly await a clear response that will pave a way out of the political crisis and build social peace,” Boluarte’s office said on Twitter.

Boluarte, who took office after Castillo’s removal, has maintained she will stay on as president until elections are held.