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On foot, by bicycle and by car, thousands of Peruvians marched in Lima on Thursday and other cities in the country in rejection of the new president, Manuel Merino, in a noisy protest called by social groups.
Some dressed as Inca emperors, others with white and red soccer jerseys, the protesters They took over the central Plaza San Martín and the park in the tourist district of Miraflores, in the south of the city, to express their opposition to the new government.
One group that tried to reach Congress was dispersed by the police with tear gas and pellets. The protesters burned objects and confronted the uniformed with stones and sticks.
“I love my Peru, I am ashamed of those who govern”, “Merino is not president”, “Congress is a pandemic that does not end”, “Not even the covid did us as much damage as Merino” said posters displayed in the Plaza San Martín near the Congress.
“We do not agree with what Congress is doing. What need to do this outrage? (To remove the popular president Martín Vizcarra?), Irene Aguilar, who marched with her daughter Brenda in the park of Miraflores, told AFP.
Many people wore black as a sign of mourning in the third consecutive day of protests against the new government that took office on Tuesday, a day after Congress removed Vizcarra in a whirlwind trial over allegations of alleged corruption.
“People are defending democracy against abuse of power,” said centrist lawmaker Gino Costa of the Morado party, who voted against the impeachment.
Many protesters were beating pots, a thunderous protest rarely seen before in Peru.
The police cordoned off with dozens of riot police around the Congress and the government palace, while the protesters marched peacefully.
Similar marches took place at nightfall in the cities of Arequipa, Trujillo, Ayacucho, Cusco, Chimbote, Abancay, Tacna, Huancayo and Tumbes, among others, according to local media.
“We want to express indignation with the political class who is doing anything to the country, ”said a protester, hitting a pot with a ladle.
In Miraflores, dozens of vehicles waving Peruvian flags sounded their horns as a sign of rejection of the new government.
There were also protesters on motorcycles and bicycles, in addition to the thousands who marched on foot.
“It is not for Vizcarra, it is for us,” read a banner. “This Congress does not represent me”, “The people say no to the usual Congress”others indicated.
The marches contributed to increase traditional traffic jams in the Peruvian capital, with 10 million inhabitants.
At the demonstrations there were people of all ages, including old ladies with their dogs.
Merino made a call for calm on Thursday. Human Rights Organizations have asked the new Peruvian authorities to respect the right to protest, and condemned the repression of the demonstrations on Tuesday and Wednesday.
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