Peru 2022 rallies
Article
May 22, 2022
Protests in Peru against inflation and President Pedro Castillo's government begin in March 2022. The protests come amid rising fertilizer and fuel prices due to Western sanctions against Russia following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, starting in the days after attempts to impeach President Castillo failed. Some of the larger protests were organized by Geovani Rafael Diez Villegas, leader of Peru's Union of Multimodal Transport Unions (UGTRANM) who previously collaborated in late 2021 with business executives and far-right politicians against Castillo's government. Its power is recognized to rival that of the government's Ministry of Transport and Communications. Diez Villegas is demanding the abolition of restrictions on bus passengers, pardons for transportation workers convicted of crimes, and negotiations for forgiveness of the transport entrepreneur's debt to the government. He then organized a general strike aimed at crippling transportation in Peru starting April 4, 2022 which resulted in protests, product shortages, transport stoppages, and riots. The Castillo government responded to the initial protests by suspending the 30% fuel tax, although the fuel companies refused to lower prices and protested. Following widespread unrest on April 4 after UGTRANM called for a general strike, President Castillo declared a one-month state of emergency, citing intelligence reports of planned violence, and imposed a curfew on the capital Lima which was later withdrawn. Unrest broke out nationwide on April 5, with thousands of people demonstrating in Lima and attempting to storm the Legislative Palace during Castillo's meeting with Congress. In addition, the office of the Supreme Court was also looted. On April 7, Castillo met with various protest leaders to find a solution to the situation, while that day Congress voted on a motion calling for Castillo's resignation, with 61 in favor, 43 against and 1 abstention. Background