Lima, Peru (AP) – Peruvian Congress voted on Friday to remove the interior minister after deciding that he failed to adequately handle violent crimes in the Andean state.
Interior Minister Juan José Santiváñez, who had 72 hours under the law, left his position after a vote of unconfidence, which voted with 78 votes in favor, 11 votes against and 20 abstentions. Santiváñez insists that he has worked hard with the police for 10 months in his tenure, but he will respect the decisions of the legislators.
Peruvian Congress said on its X account that the Santiva division must resign and be held accountable for his “unable to address the civic insecurity facing the country.” ”
The increase in public murders and other violence, especially in the 10-year-old lead singer Paul Flores, the Cambia band Yaramon.
In response to the Flores killing, President Dina Boluarte declared a state of emergency in the capital on Monday and ordered the deployment of soldiers to help police resolve the surge in violence. On the same day, opposition MPs demanded a vote on the interior minister.
Boluarte’s government had previously issued a state of emergency from September to December to attempt to stop violence.
Authorities reported 2,057 killings in 2024, up from 1,506 in 2023.
