Peru grapples with political upheaval

Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets across Peru over the nation's ongoing political crisis. Security forces deployed pepper spray and tear gas to disperse widespread unrest in cities, including the capital, Lima. The protests initially erupted following the impeachment of President Pedro Castillo in December 2022, after his attempt to dissolve Congress. His then-Vice President, Dina Boluarte, assumed the presidency, a move that ignited dissent, particularly in the country's rural, indigenous-majority regions.Demonstrators demanded President Boluarte's resignation, Pedro Castillo's release, and immediate general elections. Her refusal to step down and call for early polls was seen as an attempt to consolidate power amidst a deeply divided political landscape. The unrest exposed profound divisions, with many feeling the government in Lima disregarded the concerns of the long-neglected countryside.During her tenure, President Boluarte faced dwindling approval ratings and investigations, including allegations of undeclared luxury gifts. The government's response to the protests drew criticism from human rights groups, with dozens of lives lost in clashes between security forces and demonstrators.The political turmoil culminated in October 2025, when Peru's Congress impeached President Boluarte, citing "permanent moral incapacity" amid a deepening crisis of crime and corruption. José Jerí, the head of Congress, was subsequently sworn in as interim president, marking another chapter in Peru's recent history of rapid presidential turnovers and persistent political instability.