Peru To Place Lima Under State Of Emergency As Headwinds For New Premier Emerge

Peru will declare a 45-day state of emergency in Lima and Callao on Thursday, Defence Minister Gavidia said during the first press conference of the new Cabinet. The military will deploy troops to assist the police during the state of emergency, while some basic rights of residents will be suspended. Gavidia said that the decision was taken in response to a surge in general crime across the country, mainly around the capital.

• Prime Minister Héctor Valer did not attend the press conference. Gavidia explained his absence citing the need to participate in a meeting related to a large oil spill off the Peruvian coast, caused by the recent volcanic eruption in Tonga.
• Héctor Valer is off to a difficult start to his premiership, with Peruvian media circulating reports accusing him of domestic violence and other instances of misconduct. RPP Noticias said they spoke to the Premier's former neighbours who confirmed these reports.
• Elsewhere, the Ombudsman's Office urged President Castillo to evaluate the Prime Minister and to replace the new Environment Minister with someone with someone capable of managing the oil spill crisis. The request comes after the President tapped Wilbert Dux Supo, a politician without any experience in environmental matters, as Peru's Environment Minister.