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The head of the Peruvian Congress, Luis Valdez, called on Saturday night for the “immediate resignation” of President Manuel Merino, who took office five days ago, after the violent repression of protests against the new government, which have left at least three dead and thirteen wounded.
“I ask Mr. Merino to evaluate his immediate resignation,” Valdez said in statements to channel N television.
In a statement later released on the Congress Twitter account, the meeting of the board of directors was announced for this Sunday at 0800 hours (1300 GMT) to discuss the succession of Merino.
“We must make a major decision, tomorrow (Sunday) election of a new board of directors for a constitutional succession,” added Valdez.
The ultimatum came after the death of three protesters was known during a massive and peaceful march to reject Merino in Lima, which was violently repressed by the police with shots of pellets and tear gas.
The mayor of Lima, Jorge Muñoz, from the Popular Action party, the same from Merino, also demanded the resignation of the president.
“I just found out about the third death” in the protests, said the Archbishop of Lima, Carlos Castillo, deploring the police repression in statements to state television.
The Ombudsman’s Office had announced that the first deceased, a 25-year-old youth, was killed by pellet shots to the head and face.
There were also 13 injured protesters, according to the Ombudsman’s Office, which denounced the indiscriminate use of rubber pellets and tear gas by the police.
Police action has been severely questioned by the UN and human rights organizations such as Amnesty International since the protests began on Tuesday.
Seven of the 18 ministers of Merino announced their resignation this Saturday night after the police repression, among them that of Health, Abel Salinas, according to local media.
#The last I By order of the President of Congress, Luis Valdez Farías, the Board of Spokespersons will be summoned for tomorrow, Sunday at 8:00 am, in the Congress Chamber. Face-to-face session. pic.twitter.com/aGrlqrkHGc
– Congress of Peru (@congresoperu) November 15, 2020
Bloody saturday
Peru experienced another day of protests on Saturday with marches and cacerolazos in rejection of the Merino government, the head of Congress who took office on Tuesday after Parliament removed Martín Vizcarra in a controversial lightning trial.
Thousands of outraged people, mostly young people under 25 years of age, took to the streets in various cities to demand the resignation of Merino, in rejection of what they consider a parliamentary coup.
The largest march in Lima attracted thousands of people who converged from different parts of the capital in Plaza San Martín, the epicenter of protests in the historic area of the city.
The police again resorted to tear gas and pepper gas fired from helicopters to disperse protesters who threatened to march towards the headquarters of Congress.
#Pronunciation Given the death of two young people and multiple injuries in today’s march, the Presidency of the Constitutional Court expresses its profound rejection of the actions of the @PolicePeru. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/n5JU3mMBvM
– Constitutional Court of Peru (@TC_Peru) November 15, 2020
I deeply regret the deaths that have occurred as a result of the repression of this illegal and illegitimate government. My condolences to the families of these civil heroes who, exercising their right, came out in defense of democracy and in search of a better country. (1/2)
– Martín Vizcarra (@MartinVizcarraC) November 15, 2020
The young people carried signs with slogans such as “Merino, you are not my president”, “Merino impostor”, “Peru woke up”, and they advanced through the streets to the rhythm of batucadas and chants.
Simultaneously, a group of protesters approached the surroundings of Merino’s home, east of Lima, with pots and drums.
Military tanks circulated around a shopping center in the San Miguel district, in the north of the capital.
The president of the Epicospal Conference urged the government to dialogue and respect the population’s right to protest.
“It is essential to listen and heed the cries and the clamor of the population to regain confidence, tranquility and social peace,” said the president of the Conference, Miguel Cabrejos, archbishop of Trujillo, in a statement.
The head of the ministerial cabinet, Antero Flores Aráoz, a 78-year-old conservative politician, ruled out that the president is going to step aside because of the protests.
“He has not considered taking a step aside because millions of Peruvians support him, unfortunately they are at home. I would not ask them out, ”said the government’s number two.
Merino must complete the current mandate, which expires on July 28, 2021.
Since Tuesday, thousands of people have taken to the streets of Lima and other cities in defense of Vizcarra, a politician without a party or bench in Congress but very popular, and against the Merino government, whose legality and legitimacy they question.
Congress removed Vizcarra on Monday on charges of “moral incapacity” following a tax investigation for two alleged bribes of $ 600,000 when he was governor of the Moquegua region in 2014. The former president denies it.
An unsustainable government. Repression must stop. President and ministers must resign tonight. My condolences to the families of the victims.
– Ollanta Humala Tasso (@Ollanta_HumalaT) November 15, 2020
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