In Peru, two die in demonstrations, ministers resign en masse and the president who took office less than a week ago is under pressure to resign | World

The deaths exacerbated the latest political crisis in the country: more than half of the interim president’s ministers, Manuel Merino, left office and the leader himself is under pressure to resign.

On November 9, Vizcarra formally left the government after Congress passed an impeachment trial for “moral disability.” The former president was denounced for receiving bribes when he was governor in 2014, which he denies.

Since then, Peruvians have held marches and political events in the streets to protest Vizcarra’s removal. On Saturday, protesters filled squares in downtown Lima.

In clashes that occurred during the night, two young protesters were killed by gunshot wounds.

Peru’s national human rights coordinator said 102 people were injured and at least 41 are missing. The Health Ministry reported that 63 people were hospitalized after sustaining injuries or inhaling tear gas. At least nine had gunshot wounds, authorities said.

After the violence, 11 of the 18 ministers resigned, having been sworn in on Thursday.

Requests for Merino to resign

Merino is the former head of Congress. He led Vizcarra’s impeachment process and assumed leadership of the country last Tuesday.

“President Merino must present his resignation at this time,” the new head of Congress, center-right lawmaker Luis Valdez, told local channel América Televisión on Sunday morning.

The regional governments of Peru’s National Assembly also issued a statement demanding Merino’s resignation, saying he was “politically responsible for the acts of violence.”

Prime Minister Ántero Flores-Aráoz said in an interview with RPP radio that if Merino resigns, he will also leave.

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