Latest news with #Santivanez
Reuters
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Peru lawmakers remove interior minister amid crime wave
LIMA, March 21 (Reuters) - Peruvian lawmakers voted on Friday to oust the country's interior minister, Juan Jose Santivanez, who has faced criticism amid a spike in crime in the South American country. Santivanez was removed from his post for "his political responsibility and inability to address the wave of citizen insecurity the country has been facing," according to a post on the Peruvian Congress's official X account. The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day. Sign up here.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Peru Declares State of Emergency in Lima Over Slain Singer
(Bloomberg) -- Peruvian authorities declared a 30-day state of emergency in the nation's capital city on Monday, after a singer's murder again raised alarm about extortion rackets. ICE Eyes Massive California Tent Facility Amid Space Constraints How Britain's Most Bike-Friendly New Town Got Built The Dark Prophet of Car-Clogged Cities Washington, DC, Region Braces for 'Devastating' Cuts from Congress NYC Plans for Flood Protection Without Federal Funds Peruvians have been protesting against extortion rackets impacting all sorts of economic sectors, including public transportation, shops, schools and music bands. The murder of Paul Flores, one of the vocalists of cumbia band Armonia 10, over the weekend is pressuring the government to act and underscores that the situation isn't under control. Music groups in particular have raised their voice in the murder's wake to denounce rising rates of extortion rackets. Flores was killed as assailants shot at the bus regularly used by Armonia 10 to transport its members, in what police suspect was an attack following a demand for extortion payments. States of emergency are a very common government tactic in Peru and significant parts of Lima had already been under one in recent months. They suspend civil liberties such as the right to assembly and free transit and allow the military to police streets. But the last time the entire capital was put in a state of emergency was in 2022. Besides crime, states of emergency are used to quell social protests that disrupt key mines as well as to facilitate the delivery of aid during environmental disasters. Critics say they are ineffective and point out that previous iterations have failed to curb public safety threats. The government announced its intention to declare the state of emergency Sunday evening but had yet to actually implement it as of Monday afternoon. The administration of President Dina Boluarte has struggled to find effective responses to rising crime other than declaring new states of emergency and promising a tough stance on crime. Her 5% popularity rate has for months been among the lowest in the world. On Monday, Boluarte told an audience of school children that she was considering enacting the death penalty in Peru, although international treaties would present roadblocks to implementing it. Several opposition parties in congress have said they are now supportive of firing Interior Minister Juan Jose Santivanez, whose role entails overseeing the police and public safety. If congress takes action, it could censure and fire Santivanez in a matter of days. An Ipsos poll published last week showed 83% of Peruvians think Santivanez should resign. Authorities insist they have dismantled dozens of criminal gangs and congress earlier this month declared the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua as a terrorist organization, following a similar decision made in the US under President Donald Trump. (Updates to add declaration of state of emergency, details on bus attack, state of emergency in first, third, fourth paragraphs) The Real Reason Trump Is Pushing 'Buy American' Nvidia Looks Past DeepSeek and Tariffs for AI's Next Chapter Snap CEO Evan Spiegel Bets Meta Can't Copy High-Tech Glasses How America Got Hooked on H Mart How Trump's 'No Tax on Tips' Could Backfire for the Working Class ©2025 Bloomberg L.P. Sign in to access your portfolio
