Hours after a bloody day in which two ministers resigned due to the violent repression that left at least 17 dead in Peruthe president Dina Boluarte ruled out her resignation and left a strong message to Congress to vote on the advancement of elections to December 2023: “I demand that the early election voting be reconsidered“.

On Friday, the left and the right in Congress rejected Boluarte’s proposal to shorten the presidential term and call general elections to elect the president, vice president and the 130 legislators of the unicameral Parliament in December 2023.

The project required 87 votes in two sessions or 66 votes that later had to be ratified via referendum. Neither of the two alternatives was achieved. The proposal received 49 votes in favor, 33 against, and 25 abstentions. In addition, 23 legislators did not participate, which seemed to anger the president.

“They will have seen the vote in Congress yesterday. Apparently they want to block the possibility of bringing forward the elections. Congress has to reflect, work and act towards the country. 83% of the population wants early elections,” said Boluarte from the Government Palace this Saturday morning.

In a section of his speech he spoke directly to the legislators: “Gentlemen congressmen, do not look for excuses not to advance the elections. Do not abstain from voting, vote directly in the interest of the country, do not hide behind an abstention, It is either white or black, half measures do not solve the country’s problems”.

In a raised tone, he continued: “Do not come with useless pretexts pretending to stay until 2026. Not all, of course. There is a group, that’s why I say abstention is a disguise. Decide and let the people know you, who wants to leave and who wants to stay. Be honest with the people.”

“Without political vendettas, without personal interests, don’t be blind, look at the population and act according to what the population is demanding, we have already complied, we present the bill to advance elections,” said the president, who on Wednesday last week she ceased to be vice president to take over from Pedro Castillo, who was dismissed and arrested for attempting a self-coup.

“You legislate with good laws for the Peruvian people. Supervise, yes, because we are tired of corruption. Supervise objectively and represent the people who have given you confidence on April 11 and do not manipulate them,” he said in a message in which he spoke in Spanish and Quechua.

Boluarte does not agree to resign

Boluarte, who has been in power for just 10 days, is under attack by the protests in defense of the coup leader Pedro Castillo, also by Congress and by the violent repression by the police that left at least 17 dead, although unofficially there would already be more than 20.

This Saturday, the president also referred to the rumors and requests for her to leave office. “I am only complying with the constitutional mandate. There is a group that says: ‘Let Dina resign’, but what is resolved? The problem is not resolved. Here we will be firm until Congress approves the early elections. We have to stand firm to say no to violence,” said the president.

And he insisted: “To some congressmen of the republic who, in their political vendettas, are telling Dina to resign. What is the alternative solution? Peru does not have time for political vendettas, Peru is there to solve the problems that are for that They have chosen”.

Lima, special envoy