Andina

Demonstrations in favor of early general elections held in Peru

ANDINA/Renato Pajuelo

22:02 | Lima, Sep. 5.

Carrying a large Peruvian flag, thousands of citizens on Thursday evening participated in the massive demonstrations aimed at supporting the early general elections bill proposed by President Martin Vizcarra's administration.


Running under the logo #QueSeVayanTodos (They all must go), demonstrators joined the march convened by civil organizations and associations during the previous days.

The event organizers —including NGO National Coordinator for Human Rights (CNDDHH)— believe the country is going through a difficult time marked by confrontation between the Executive and Legislative Branches. As is known, Congress is controlled by a parliamentary majority led by Keiko Fujimori's Fuerza Popular party.


In the case of Lima, the gathering started at San Martin Square at 5:00 PM (local time). From there, the crowd traveled the streets to finish their tour at the Public Ministry headquarters at night.


Puno, Cusco, Piura, Tacna, Arequipa, Ica, Junin, La Libertad, Ancash, and Loreto regions also hosted protests in support of the Executive Branch's initiative, as was the case of the French capital city of Paris.





According to the latest Datum poll, 64% of Peruvians support the proposal of holding early elections by 2020. Also, 72% reject the possibility of a presidential impeachment.

President proposes early elections

In his annual Address to the Nation —on the occasion of the country's 198th Independence Anniversary— Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra proposed calling for early general elections by 2020, instead of 2021.

The initiative came as response to the way Parliament handled the political reform bills presented by the Executive Branch to Parliament and submitted to a confidence motion.


"Taking into account that the confidence requested for the reforms has been approved only in words and denied in facts, I have decided —as consequence— to once again put the interests of Peru above all," the Head of State said on that day.

In this sense, the top official underlined that he has traveled across the entire country, noting there is no place in Peru where he has not been asked to dissolve Parliament. 

"Peruvians should be able to choose their destiny to make the way for Peru's Bicentennial (2021). With this action, the foundations of our Republic will be reinforced, even if it means we must all go. Congress members, Peru First!" he pointed out.

"For all the above, I propose a way out of this institutional crisis. I present Congress a constitutional reform for the calling of early general elections, which implies cutting the congressional mandate to July 28, 2020," the highest-ranking official expressed.

"In the same way, in that reform, cutting the presidential mandate to that date is also requested," he added.

Congress has become very unpopular in Peru.

(END) MVB

Published: 9/5/2019