Peru’s Congress has rejected a request by embattled President Dina Boluarte to bring forward elections to December 2023, as protests that have killed dozens rage on against her leadership.
Lawmakers agreed last month to bring forward elections from 2026 to April 2024. But in a plenary session held during Saturday’s early hours,
Left-wing parties demanded that the advancement of elections be accompanied by a constitutional convention – something protesters have repeatedly called for.
“With this vote, the constitutional reform proposal for the advancement of elections is rejected,” Congress President Jose Williams said, after more than seven hours of debate.
Following the vote, Williams received a request for “reconsideration”, which could be debated on Monday in a new session, though it would be difficult to reverse the decision.
The South American country has been embroiled in a political crisis with near-daily protests since December 7,
when then-President Pedro Castillo was arrested after attempting to dissolve Congress and rule by decree.