Two other government officials have resigned amid ongoing protests against Peru’s new government. Head of State Dina Boluarte immediately replaced Interior Minister Victor Rojas, who resigned, with Vicente Romero, a senior retired police officer yesterday (local time). Women’s Minister Grecia Rojas was replaced by Nancy Tolentino after her resignation.
The new labor minister, Luis Alfonso Adrianzen, also took his oath of office. His predecessor Eduardo Garcia resigned on Thursday over the government’s handling of the protests.
Unrest for weeks
Peru has been wracked by unrest since the ouster and arrest of leftist President Castillo on December 7. The demonstrators are demanding the resignation of his successor Boluarte and a dissolution of parliament in order to hold new elections immediately. 42 people have already died during the protests.
Before his resignation, Interior Minister Rojas had been heavily criticized for the use of force by the Peruvian police against the demonstrators. His successor Romero was already Minister of the Interior in 2018 under the then head of state Pedro Pablo Kuczynski.
Peruvian police meanwhile announced the arrest of union leader Rocio Leandro from the southern region of Ayacucho. He is accused of having contacts with Maoist rebels from the Shining Path guerrilla organization, helping to finance the current anti-government protests and recruiting demonstrators.
