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Peru is set to impose emergency measures after at least one person was killed and dozens of police officers were injured in massive demonstrations targeting the newly installed president, inaugurated only a few days prior.

Official Measures

The nation's premier said late on Thursday that authorities would enact emergency protocols for the capital within hours and crafting a comprehensive plan to tackle rising insecurity.

Wednesday evening's demonstration – called by gen Z protesters, transport workers and civil groups – was the latest in a series of demonstrations targeting graft and increasing lawlessness, which led to the dramatic midnight ouster of former president Dina Boluarte last Thursday.

Demonstration Developments

Mass gatherings formed nationwide, with significant confrontations occurring at the legislative building. Law enforcement deployed crowd control measures while demonstrators launched pyrotechnics, projectiles, and incendiary devices.

"Everyone must go!" protesters chanted when they reached congress and attempted to breach security barricades protecting the building.

Casualties and Investigation

A 32-year-old man, Eduardo Mauricio Ruiz, lost his life in the demonstration and authorities pledged to examine the circumstances, stated a human rights representative, from the national oversight institution. The nation's judicial authorities said Ruiz died after being shot.

Official Statements

The president conveyed sorrow regarding the fatality in a post on X, saying the death would be "objectively" investigated. He blamed violence on "delinquents who infiltrated a peaceful demonstration to sow chaos".

"Legal consequences will be severe," he affirmed.

After attending a meeting about the protests at congress, the president requested expanded powers to address security matters.

Proposed Reforms

Jerí said one focus would be prison reform, though specific authority details remained unspecified.

Recently installed security chief Vicente Tiburcio informed legislators that the government would push for comprehensive reform to the national police, adding that 89 police and 22 civilians had been injured during the protest and multiple individuals faced arrest.

Political Context

The recent demonstrations served as an indicator for how Jerí's nascent presidency – which ends next July due to scheduled elections – could play out.

Jerí, 38 has promised to make crime his top priority but has faced a number of scandals, involving graft accusations and previously examined misconduct claims. The president refuted all allegations and pledged full cooperation with oversight proceedings.

Historical Precedent

Boluarte's government encountered mass demonstrations after she assumed power in late 2022, resulting in multiple fatalities and a plunge in her popularity levels, which oscillated between 2% and 4% in the days leading up to her ouster.

The legislative body previously led by the current president is almost equally unpopular, with a single-digit approval rating.