Peru interim leader resigns after five days following deaths of protesters

‘He has resigned because his hands are stained with the blood of our children,’ says Peruvian woman

People in a snack bar in Lima watch as Peruvian interim president Manuel Merino announces he is standing down in a televised message on Sunday (AFP via Getty Images)

Peru’s interim president Manuel Merino has resigned after just five days in office, driving the country into further political chaos after Mr Merino’s predecessor was ousted from government over alleged bribery charges. 

Mr Merino’s resignation came amid nationwide demonstrations, calling for the newly-instated leader to step down. A brutal police crackdown of the protests, instructed by Mr Merino, caused the deaths of at least two Peruvians and the injuries of more than 100. 

The protests were a result of Mr Merino, the former head of Congress, having an active role to play in booting popular centrist Martín Vizcarra out of office over bribery allegations. Mr Vizcarra has vehemently denied the charges.

He was only sworn in on Tuesday but in a televised speech at midday on Sunday, Mr Merino announced his resignation. He said it was “irrevocable” and called for “peace and unity” in Peru. The rest of Mr Merino’s administration resigned shortly after, leaving Peruvians in the dark about who their next interim leader would be.

Many had hoped left-wing legislator and human rights defender Rocio Silva-Santisteban would be sworn in to office but an initial vote failed to garner majority support for her. 

It is not yet clear if Congress, largely dominated by right-wing politicians, will support Congressman Silva-Santisteban’s appointment. 

Peru’s Congress announced on Monday that a second vote to decide the next leader had been abandoned until 2pm PST (10pm GMT) the same day.

The people of Peru were adamant that Mr Merino was responsible for protestors’ deaths and injuries. “Merino has resigned because his hands are stained with blood, with the blood of our children,” one woman told reporters from the streets of Peru, before adding that the legislators who put him in power should also pay.

Following confirmation from the country’s public ombudsman that two young protesters were killed in the clashes after succumbing to gunshot wounds, Peru’s National Human Rights co-ordinator said 102 people were injured and at least 41 were missing.

The health ministry also said 63 people were admitted to hospital with injuries or for inhaling tear gas, while nine were being treated for gunshot wounds.

Peru has been shaken by some of its largest protests in recent history since Mr Vizcarra, who was politically unaffiliated, was removed from office last week following an impeachment vote. While marches had mainly been peaceful, they descended into violence and chaos on Saturday night.

Mr Vizcarra took to Twitter to blame his succeeder Mr Merino’s “illegal and illegitimate government” for the deaths of the two protesters.

“The country will not allow the deaths of these brave young men to go unpunished,” the former president, who is yet to be found guilty of the charges brought against him, said on Sunday.