The government has declared a state of emergency in Lima and three other regions as a result of the protests, which have claimed at least 42 lives in recent weeks. But people are still flocking to Lima to continue to make themselves heard and get Dina Boluarte to resign.
— We know they want to take Lima, we’ve seen that on social media. I urge them to take Lima, but calmly and peacefully. I am waiting for them to discuss their agenda, she says in a speech in the country’s constitutional court where she also warns the protesters to take the law into their own hands.
The state of emergency gives the army the right to intervene to maintain order and suspends several constitutional rights such as freedom of assembly and movement.
Several of the thousands who are on their way to the capital and the demonstrations on Wednesday and Thursday come from far away and have been moving towards Lima on foot for days.
Supporters of former president Pedro Castillo, who was ousted in December, are calling for Dina Boluarte to step down and for elections to be held in the country. But Boluarte said in a televised speech on Friday that she does not intend to resign.