Peru’s Congress Votes to Dismiss Interior Minister Amid Rising Violence

Peru’s Congress dismissed Interior Minister Juan José Santiváñez for failing to combat increasing violence, particularly following the murder of musician Paul Flores. The no-confidence vote passed with 78 in favor. President Dina Boluarte declared a state of emergency and deployed troops to assist the police as violence escalated.

On Friday, Peru’s Congress voted to dismiss Interior Minister Juan José Santiváñez due to inadequacies in managing the increasing violent crime rates in the nation. The no-confidence motion passed with 78 votes supporting the removal, while 11 opposed and 20 abstained. Santiváñez has 72 hours to resign from his position and stated he would respect the lawmakers’ decision despite his claims of hard work with the police during his 10-month tenure.

The Congress highlighted his failure to tackle the severe issue of citizen insecurity currently affecting the country. Public fury has intensified following the violent death of Paul Flores, the lead singer of the cumbia band Armonia 10, who was shot by assailants after a concert in Lima. This incident prompted a significant response from the government.

In reaction to the escalating violence, President Dina Boluarte declared a state of emergency in Lima and mobilized military support for the police. Following Flores’s murder, opposition lawmakers swiftly initiated a no-confidence vote against Santiváñez. Previously, Boluarte’s government had imposed a state of emergency from September to December in an effort to control violence, with authorities reporting a troubling increase in homicides.

The vote to oust Interior Minister Santiváñez was a significant response to public outcry regarding rising violent crime in Peru, exacerbated by the recent violent death of an influential musician. This situation underscores the challenges the Boluarte administration faces in addressing security issues, as the government has previously struggled to manage the alarming rise in crime rates.

Original Source: www.newsday.com