Dissatisfaction With Govt Institutions Suggests Instability Will Persist

Peru's capital, Lima, is bracing for the third “Toma de Lima” (taking of Lima) - a planned antigovernmental protest taking place today which is expected to attract thousands of protesters, mostly from the poor south of the country.

• Peruvian President Dina Boluarte yesterday ruled out any action on protester demands, including her resignation, the release of former President Pedro Castillo, the dissolution of Congress, and the drafting of a new constitution.
• The protests, which began in response to the removal of Pedro Castillo, but have since broadened into a more general display of antigovernmental sentiment, are likely to perpetuate a cycle of violent confrontations between security forces and protesters which have destabilised the country.
• Al Jazeera reports that around 24,000 security personal deployed today to enforce a state of emergency which has prohibited freedom of assembly and freedom of movement.
• Historically low approval of government institutions suggests that protests are likely to persist even if another violent crackdown is enforced. Reuters, and Tellimer note that Boluarte’s approval rating is hovering around 10-15% with Prime Minister Alberto Otárola Peñaranda, the opposition-led Congress, and judiciary experiencing similarly low numbers.