Lima, Peru — On April 4, a group of alleged illegal miners dynamited transmission towers that supply power to two shafts at the “La Poderosa” mine in Pataz province, in the northern Peruvian region of La Libertad. Shortly after 11:00 p.m. on April 4, immediately following the attack, the miners unsuccessfully attempted to take control of two company galleries, despite the presence of around 300 members of the National Police and the army in the area. The next day, the “Unified Command of Pataz,” composed of the Army and the police, confirmed the death of one person and said that two others we ..read more

Lima, Peru — Peru finds itself once again in the eye of the political storm with a scandal threatening the stability of the country and President Dina Boluarte’s administration. Boluarte came into office in December 2022 following then-President Pedro Castillo’s ousting after he attempted to dissolve Congress. For the past two weeks, the South American country has been rocked by corruption allegations involving the president, who is under investigation related to a collection of luxurious watches and jewelry, as well as allegedly receiving 1.1 million soles (USD $296.000) from unknown sources ..read more

Lima, Peru — Peru’s Public Ministry on Monday opened an investigation into President Dina Boluarte for alleged illicit enrichment, following a local news outlet’s investigation into her alleged collection of expensive watches.  A March 18 statement from the Public Ministry read: “Preliminary proceedings have been ordered against Dina Boluarte for the alleged commission of the crime of illicit enrichment and omission of declaration in documents, due to the use of Rolex watches.” According to news outlet La Encerrona, President Boluarte has worn 14 different watches, including a Rolex, sin ..read more

Lima, Peru — Human Rights Watch (HRW) has condemned the recent decision by Peru’s Congress to oust two members from the National Board of Justice (JNJ). This ouster, which took place on Thursday, March 7, raises serious concerns about judicial independence and the rule of law in the South American country, as the JNJ is responsible for the selection and appointment of its judges and prosecutors.  Additionally, the body is responsible for appointing or renewing some electoral authorities, such as the head of the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) and the head of the National Re ..read more

Lima, Peru — In a historic session on March 6, Peru’s Congress took a significant step towards constitutional reform by approving a return to a bicameral parliament after 30 years of unicameralism.  The reform would leave behind Peru’s current unicameral congress, which consists of 130 legislators, and establish a bicameral parliament with a Senate (60 senators) and a Chamber of Deputies (130 deputies). Both senators and deputies would serve five-year terms and could subsequently be re-elected.  The measure was approved with 91 votes in favor, 31 against, and three abstentions. The ..read more

Lima, Peru — Tourism at Peru’s majestic Machu Picchu citadel in the Cusco region came to a halt from January 25 to 30 due to massive strikes.  Local residents and unions were protesting a new ticket sales system for the attraction which was put in place by travel and events website Joinnus. Protesters feared that the new ticket platform, officially launched on January 20, would harm local businesses by “privatizing” sales and directing profits to a single company. Demanding an immediate cancellation of the contract with the website, protesters set roadblocks and obstructed the rail line ..read more

Lima, Peru — Some politicians in Peru are questioning the safety of President Dina Boluarte following a physical attack against her at a rally January 20 in Peru’s central Ayacucho region.  Prime Minister Alberto Otárola this week criticized the president’s security detail, saying they were “relaxed” and didn’t take the necessary precautions to protect her, according to a report in Gestión.  “There was a lack of security,” said Otárola. “The president is the president, she is the head of state and this lack of security cannot happen again.”  Last weekend, Boluarte was visiting ..read more

Lima, Peru — Peru’s Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office on January 18 requested that the Public Ministry investigate Nicanor Boluarte, the brother of President Dina Boluarte, for alleged corruption and influence peddling.  The criminal complaint was filed following the airing of TV news program Cuarto Poder, which reported that Nicanor had allegedly influenced prefect and sub-prefect appointments in the San Martín region of the Peruvian Amazon. His aim, prosecutors alleged, was to obtain signatures to register a political party for the 2026 general elections. In Peru, prefects and sub-pr ..read more

Lima, Peru — Peru’s Public Ministry filed criminal charges last week against former President Pedro Casillo for attempting to dissolve Congress on December 7, 2022, and is seeking a 34-year prison sentence for the crimes of rebellion, abuse of authority and public disturbance. Additionally, for the same rebellion case, a 25-year prison term has been requested for former Prime Minister Betssy Chávez, who is currently in pretrial detention; and a 15-year prison sentence for former Prime Minister Aníbal Torres, who, during the coup, worked as an advisor to the Council of Ministers. Pretrial dete ..read more

Lima, Peru — In response to a wave of violence in Ecuador, Peru’s government has declared a state of emergency along various parts of its northern border. A move it says is to prevent criminals from entering Peru. On January 10, the Executive Branch formalized the measure through Supreme Decree No. 003-2024-PCM, aiming to strengthen border security in seven provinces located in the departments of Tumbes, Piura, Cajamarca, Amazonas, and Loreto. “This regulation effectively applies Article No. 44 of the Constitution of Peru, which establishes the primary duty of the State to protect the populat ..read more