Write a comment
Peruvians demonstration against the removal of President Martin Vizcarra and the appointment of Manuel Merino

2020 Peruvian protests and President Francisco Sagasti (2020 - 2021)

Political instability and Covid weakens Peru

After the controversial removal of the popular Martin Vizcarra on November 9, 2020, which many Peruvians, political analysts, and the media, considered being a coup d'état, Manuel Merino, the President of Congress, was appointed as new Peruvian president and immediately formed a far-right government.

Peruvian November protests 2020

Showing their outrage over the president’s removal from office and their rejection of Manuel Merino as their new president, huge protests broke out throughout the country, including in Lima, Arequipa, Chiclayo, Cusco, Huaraz, Iquitos, Piura, Tacna, and Trujillo, where tens of thousands especially young Peruvians, who supported Vizcarra and approved of his anti-corruption efforts, demonstrated.

The protests were largely nonviolent until Peruvian police tried to crack down the protests with disproportional violence using tear gas, batons, and rubber bullets to disperse the crowds. The confrontations wounded hundreds of protesters, and more than 40 were allegedly extrajudicially detained and / or went missing. Human rights organizations condemned the police response as heavy-handed and violent.

When two protesters in their early twenties died after being shot by police on November 14, 2020, the majority of ministers from Merino's government resigned from office; under mounting pressure Merino followed them a day later.

Congress voted to replace him with Francisco Sagasti, one of the few members of congress who opposed Vizcarra’s second impeachment.

President Francisco Sagasti from November 2020 to July 2021

After Vizcarra’s removal from office and Merino’s resignation, Francisco Sagasti, who aged 76 has had a long career of work in international economic institutions outside of the domestic political culture of Peru, was appointed as interim president until his, or more correct President Kuczynski’s presidential term ended in July 2021.

Peruvian President Francisco Sagasti
Francisco Sagasti was appointed as interim president to calm down the tense political situation in Peru

Sagasti has always seen himself as being a centrist, stating that "Since college, many leftist movements have tempted me, but I don't think you have to destroy everything to create new things. ... That is what makes me a center person. I am a person with a more reformist conception of things." Sagasti as well is considered a moderate technocrat capable of avoiding controversy and calming down social conflicts. His government saw itself as a “transitional and emergency government” managing the affairs until a newly elected president and his cabinet was taking office on July 28, 2021.

Even though he only was an interim president, he had a clear vision of his time in office. His goals were to manage the Covid-19 pandemic in Peru, fight corruption, foster a friendly and stable economic environment and promote education in rural areas. However, as his predecessors, Sargasti had a hard stand against Congress. Nevertheless, he sucessfully resolved social conflicts during his presidency and got peaceful presidential elections of the ground. At least, until the results were announced.

Say something here...
characters left
or post as a guest
All comments MUST be in English and will be moderated before publishing.
They will appear below within 24 hours.
Loading comment... The comment will be refreshed after 00:00.

Be the first to comment.

Peru Newsflash

Peru Event Calendar

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

Latest Content...

Latest Video

Maria Reiche - Memories

Maria Reiche - Memories

Submitted by: Tintin
05 December 2021

Long Reads...

  • Peruvian Archaeology

    The Mystery of the Nazca Lines in Peru

    In the 1920s, when people first flew across southern Peru, they made an astonishing discovery. Stretching below them,…
  • Peruvian Personalities & Founders

    Francisco Pizarro González (1474-1541)

    Francisco Pizarro, a peasant from Spain, was one of the least well-equipped conquerors in history. However, in the name…
  • Peruvian Archaeology

    The colorful Fabrics and Textiles of Peru

    Europe’s first knowledge of Peruvian textiles was acquired following the Spanish invasion of Peru in 1532, when the…
  • Peruvian Legends, Myths & Tales

    The Jeweled Frog and the Condor

    By a quiet pond, at the side of a cloud-topped mountain in Peru, lived a small green frog and his large green family.…
  • Peru Info

    Peruvian Economy

    The Peruvian economy is an emerging, social market economy highly dependent on foreign trade and classified as an upper…