2020 Peruvian protests

2020 Peruvian protests
Part of 2017–present Peruvian political crisis
Top to bottom, left to right:
Demonstrations on 17 November at Plaza San Martín, protesters carrying a large Peruvian flag during the first National March on 12 November, demonstration in Plaza de Armas of Trujillo on 9 November and protesters gathered during the first National March in Lima.
Date9 – 17 November 2020
Location
Caused by
Goals
Methods
Resulted in
  • Manuel Merino resigns from presidency
  • Francisco Sagasti is designated president until general elections
Parties

Protesters


Opposition parties:


Human rights groups:

  • National Human Rights Coordinator
Lead figures
Number
Tens of thousands[1]
Casualties and losses

Injuries

11 police (12 Nov)[1]

Deaths

Injuries

The 2020 Peruvian protests were a series of demonstrations sparked after the removal of President Martín Vizcarra that took place from 9 November to 17 November 2020.[5]

The controversial removal of Vizcarra was recognized as a coup d'état by many Peruvians,[6][7] political analysts[8] and media outlets in the country.[9][10][11][12][13] Protests were registered in several cities of the country, to show their outrage at the president's vacancy and reject the inauguration of the president of Congress, Manuel Merino.[14] Upon taking office, Merino formed a far-right government.[15][16][17]

The protests have been described as the largest demonstrations in Peru in the past two decades and are organized by grassroots groups of young Peruvians on social media.[1][18] The disproportional response by authorities has been condemned by various human rights organizations, including the United Nations, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) and Amnesty International.[19][20][21]

After reports that 2 protesters were killed by authorities on 14 November, the majority of ministers from Merino's government resigned from office[22] while Merino resigned the following day; he was president for five days.[23] Along with the aftermath of 2 dead, hundreds were left injured and over 40 citizens were reported as missing and authorities have refused to investigate further.[24] On 16 November, the Congress of Peru elected Francisco Sagasti as the president of the legislature, automatically elevating him to the Peruvian presidency under the constitution.[25]

  1. ^ a b c d e "Qué hay detrás de las masivas protestas en Perú tras la salida de Vizcarra de la presidencia" [What's behind the massive protests in Peru after Vizcarra's departure from the presidency]. BBC Mundo (in Spanish). 13 November 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  2. ^ "Inti Sotelo Camargo | Marcha Nacional: Confirman segundo muerto en manifestación contra Manuel Merino" [Inti Sotelo Camargo | National March: Confirmed second dead in demonstration against Manuel Merino]. Perú21 (in Spanish). 15 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  3. ^ "Sagasti sobre manifestante fallecido en Lambayeque: Investigaremos qué sucedió" [Sagasti on deceased protester in Lambayeque: We will investigate what happened]. La República (in Spanish). 3 December 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  4. ^ "Ciudadanos participan este sábado en la segunda Marcha Nacional contra el Gobierno de Manuel Merino | Ántero Flores-Aráoz | Congreso de la República | Vacancia presidencial" [Citizens participate this Saturday in the second National March against the Government of Manuel Merino | Ántero Flores-Aráoz | Congress of the Republic | Presidential vacancy]. RPP (in Spanish). 15 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  5. ^ "Vacancia presidencial de Martín Vizcarra: grupos de personas se congregaron en la plaza San Martín tras votación del Congreso" [Presidential vacancy of Martín Vizcarra: groups of people gathered in Plaza San Martín after a congressional vote] (in Spanish). Lima: El Comercio. 9 November 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  6. ^ Collyns, Dan (15 November 2020). "Two killed as huge pro-democracy protests continue in Peru". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  7. ^ Briceño, Franklin; Armario, Christine (10 November 2020). "Peru's swears in new leader as political turmoil hits nation". Star Tribune. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  8. ^ "They threw out the president. Now Peru's anti-corruption drive looks in doubt". Los Angeles Times. 12 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  9. ^ "Golpe de estado editorial" [Editorial coup d'état]. La República (in Spanish). 10 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  10. ^ "Manuel Merino presentó al Gabinete de Antero Flores-Aráoz en medio de protestas NNAV" [Manuel Merino presented Antero Flores-Aráoz's Cabinet in the midst of NNAV protests]. El Comercio (in Spanish). 12 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  11. ^ "Manuel Merino: crean pedido para rechazar vacancia contra Martín Vizcarra y el golpe de Estado" [Manuel Merino: create order to reject vacancy against Martín Vizcarra and the coup]. Líbero (in Spanish). 11 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  12. ^ García, Jessica (12 November 2020). "Trujillo: miles de ciudadanos marchan contra gobierno de Manuel Merino" [Trujillo: thousands of citizens march against the government of Manuel Merino]. El Popular (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  13. ^ "Inconformes consideran toma de protesta de Manuel Merino como golpe de Estado" [Reports consider Manuel Merino's takeover as a coup d'état]. Noticieros Televisa (in Mexican Spanish). 10 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  14. ^ "Martín Vizcarra: Así fueron las protestas en varias ciudades del país tras vacancia del presidente" [Martín Vizcarra: This is how the protests were in several cities of the country after the president's vacancy] (in Spanish). RPP Noticias. 9 November 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  15. ^ Tegel, Simeon (15 November 2020). "Protests turn to celebrations as Peru's interim president offers resignation". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 6 December 2020. Like his cabinet, made up largely of aging far-right politicians, Merino had appeared incapable of comprehending the fury of the protesters
  16. ^ "Cómo derrocar un Presidente" [How to overthrow a President]. IDL-Reporteros. 12 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020. Spanish: Aposentado en Palacio, respaldado por una organización de ultraderecha con una larga lista de almirantes, ... Merino ha pasado su primera noche como 'presidente'
    English: Resting in the Palace, backed by a far-right organization with a long list of admirals, ... Merino has spent his first night as 'president'
  17. ^ ""No sé qué les fastidia", dice el primer ministro de Perú ante las masivas protestas" ["I don't know what's bothering them," says Peru's prime minister in the face of massive protests]. EFE (in European Spanish). 12 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020. Spanish: ... un Ejecutivo de "ancha base" pero que finalmente es de corte conservador, con miembros de derecha y ultraderecha.
    English: ... an Executive with a "broad base" but that is ultimately conservative, with members of the right and far right.
  18. ^ Briceño, Franklin (14 November 2020). "Peru president's ouster sparks wave of youth-led protests". Associated Press. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  19. ^ "ONU Perú manifiesta preocupación sobre eventos ocurridos durante las protestas | Naciones Unidas en Perú" [UN Peru expresses concern about events that occurred during the protests | United Nations in Peru]. United Nations Peru (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  20. ^ "La CIDH preocupada por el "uso excesivo" de la fuerza policial en las protestas en Perú" [The IACHR concerned about the "excessive use" of police force in the protests in Peru]. EFE (in Spanish). 13 November 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  21. ^ Cite error: The named reference :4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  22. ^ Cite error: The named reference :15 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  23. ^ "Junta de Portavoces se reúne para evaluar renuncia de Manuel Merino tras las muertes de dos jóvenes en la Marcha Nacional | Ántero Flores-Aráoz | Congreso de la República | Vacancia presidencial" [Board of Spokespersons meets to evaluate the resignation of Manuel Merino after the deaths of two young people in the National March | Ántero Flores-Aráoz | Congress of the Republic | Presidential vacancy]. RPP (in Spanish). 15 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  24. ^ "Two killed and at least 100 injured in Peru protests after president impeached". Metro. 15 November 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  25. ^ "Peru's Congress Selects Centrist Lawmaker To Be New Leader". Associated Press. 16 November 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020.