The Peruvian President presents the new election draft for 2023

Issued on: 03/02/2023 – 03:19

The bill, seen by Reuters, calls for congressional and presidential elections to be held in October this year, with elected officials set to take power at the end of December. Elected officers would serve five-year terms ending in July 2028.

The Andean country is in the grip of about eight weeks of anti-government protests that have killed 48 people in clashes between protesters and security forces, mainly in Peru’s copper-rich south. Quick elections were a key demand of protesters after former left-wing President Pedro Castillo was ousted in December.

The new bill comes after a number of proposals for a snap election in Congress collapsed, including one on Wednesday, after days of behind-closed-doors negotiations failed to reach consensus, with fragmented political parties failing to agree on how to vote despite widespread public support to move forward quick vote.

Some right-wing members are opposed to reducing their term in office, while left-wing factions have said they will not support a law unless it also includes a non-binding referendum on a new constitution.

Boluarte, Castillo’s former deputy, who took office after trying to illegally dissolve Congress, announced plans over the weekend for bills for snap elections and a constitutional rewrite following violent protests that left one dead in the capital .

Peru Libre, Castillo’s party, has presented a bill for early elections and a non-binding referendum on a new constitution, which was defeated on Thursday evening.

Prime Minister Alberto Otarola is scheduled to present the executive branch bill to a congressional commission on Friday afternoon.

Protesters across Peru have blocked highways with trees, boulders and tires, occupied regional airports and burned down buildings, affecting the movement of goods, business and operations of some key mines of the world’s second largest copper producer.

(REUTERS)