Peru’s interim President, Jose Jeri, has declared a state of emergency in Lima and the neighbouring port of Callao after weeks of anti-government protests over corruption and organised crime.
This is the first major action by the Interim President since he took office nearly two weeks ago to address the spiralling crime crisis.
It is the government’s latest attempt to stem a surge in violence that has stirred protests and contributed to the recent downfall of Jeri’s predecessor.
Jeri said in an address to the nation on state television that the state of emergency approved by the Council of Ministers “will take effect at midnight on Wednesday and will last for 30 days in metropolitan Lima and Callao.”
He added that the government is considering steps including deploying soldiers to help police and restricting some rights, such as the freedom of assembly and movement.
“Crime has increased disproportionately in recent years, causing immense pain to thousands of families and further hindering the country’s progress. But that’s over. Today, we begin to change the narrative of insecurity in Peru.”
Jose Jeri
Jeri also noted in his address that he’s planning to a new approach to fighting crime in the country.
“We are moving from the defensive to the offensive in the fight against crime, a fight that will allow us to regain peace, tranquility, and the trust of millions of Peruvians.”
Jose Jeri
His government published later a decree formally declaring the emergency. Under the state of emergency, the government can send the army to patrol the streets and restrict freedom of assembly and other rights.
Peru has been rocked by protests for weeks and lawmakers voted earlier this month to impeach the elected President, Dina Boluarte, whom critics blamed for a surge in crime and accuse of corruption.
Boluarte was removed from office by Peru’s Congress on October 10, 2025, after an impeachment process in which lawmakers said that she had been unable to tackle the crime wave. She was immediately replaced by Jose Jeri, the legislative body’s leader.
Boluarte declared a 30-day state of emergency in March, but it did little to reduce crime.
Peru has seen an increase of killings, violent extortion and attacks on public places in recent years. Between January and September, police reported 1,690 homicides, compared to 1,502 during the same period of 2024.
The youth-led demonstrations have brought thousands of Peruvians, frustrated by the authorities’ failure to address the worsening crime crisis, on to the streets in Lima and several other cities.
Over the past month, more than 200 people have been injured in the protests including police officers, protesters and journalists. One man was shot dead by police.
The security crisis in Peru, which has hit the transportation sector especially hard, with at least 47 bus drivers killed this year in what are believed to be extortion-related attacks, triggered Boluarte’s dismissal.
Jeri To Remain Peru’s President Till July 2026
Jeri, the Speaker of parliament, will serve as Interim President until July 2026. Peru has had seven governments over the past decade, including the one that replaced Dina Boluarte.
Protesters rallied in Lima on Thursday to demand the resignation of the new President. They demanded Jerí and other lawmakers resign and repeal the laws they say benefit criminal groups.
The demonstration turned violent, leaving one civilian dead and around 100 people injured, including police officers and some journalists. Jeri said that same day that he wouldn’t resign.
The Peruvian protests comes amid a wave of protests unfolding across the world, driven by generational discontent against governments and anger among young people. Protests have broken out in Nepal, the Philippines, Indonesia, Kenya, Peru and Morocco.
