The social and political atmosphere that has been breathed in Peru for years and that the dismissal of former president Pedro Castillo on December 7th last deteriorated even more, continues to deteriorate due to protests and road blockades that are maintained at least for a while. third of the 196 provinces – spread over 24 departments – of the Andean country, according to information from the Ministry of the Interior.
With data from the National Superintendence of Transportation of People and Goods (Sutran), the Ombudsman’s Office estimated this Tuesday at 127 total or partial cuts of routes in the national territory. The traffic interruptions and the massive demonstrations are part of the actions demanding the resignation of the current Head of State, Dina Boluarte, the closure of Congress and the advancement of the elections, among other measures.
The president who occupies the presidency following the castling executed by Parliament in the leadership of political power confirmed that her decision is to remain in office until the elections scheduled for April 2024 (originally they were to be held in 2026); she did it herself following the massive march of “Los cuatro suyos” (or Toma de Lima) that took place in the Peruvian capital on January 18 and 19.
This Tuesday, in a press conference with foreign media accredited at the Casa de Pizarro, Boluarte called for a national truce with the purpose of establishing dialogue tables to set the agenda of priorities for each region.
“Peru is a democratic nation that respects the rule of law and institutions,” the president assured the correspondents.
To all this, the governor of Arequipa, Rohel Sánchez, urged Parliament to find a way to hold presidential elections this year and not wait until 2024.
“Within the framework of what the democratic transition and legality means, it is appropriate to reflect and act in Congress to cut the deadlines for the elections to be held in 2023.
The president opined that the congressmen do not have legitimacy due to their high disapproval to debate and approve electoral reforms and considered that these issues would have to be debated by a new Parliament.
hard impacts
The economic effects of the worsening of the crisis are making themselves felt in the fiscal coffers, in the commercial and industrial activity and in the pocket of the population in general and in particular in that of the most vulnerable sectors.
The Peruvian Minister of Economy and Finance, Alex Contreras, warned this Tuesday that the increase in the prices of food and most of the items of mass consumption is being noticed over the days although the escalation would be “temporary”, the official predicted.
However, the head of the MEF stressed that, despite the economic costs of the protests (in the order of 600 million dollars), the resilience of the Peruvian economy is maintained due to its macroeconomic fundamentals.
In a press conference, Contreras specified that the Peruvian country risk is located at 207 points.
For its part, the National Society of Industry assured that the impact of the climate of institutional anxiety has so far caused losses of some 185 million dollars and another 110 million of currency in the mining sector.
few tourists
The economic damages are also related to the significant decrease in the tourist movement.
For example, John González, president of the Chamber of Commerce of Cusco (the largest receptive place for international tourism in Peru), calculated that due to the ostensible drop in visitors to the ancient capital of the Inca Empire (which has Machu Pichu as a tourist emblem and the most demanded product), the economic damages range between 500,000 and 550,000 dollars per day; with an accumulated loss since the protests began of regarding 14 million dollars.
The businessman also warned that the economic impact for Cusco would climb to 850,000 dollars a day in high season (which begins in April) if the social and political unrest continues.
Likewise, González calculated that 60 percent of the agencies that offer tourist services in that city in southeastern Peru – located on the eastern slope of the Andes mountain range – are on the verge of bankruptcy and have been forced to suspend employees. .
The situation also affects agricultural producers, who provide inputs to hotels and restaurants that are currently working with very low reserve levels.
