Lima.- The Peruvian president peter castle He lifted a curfew decree on Tuesday afternoon after widespread defiance in the streets, while protests multiplied against the rises in fuel and fertilizer prices caused by the war in Ukraine.
“I must announce that as of this moment we are going to annul the tenure. It is up to the Peruvian people to calm down,” Castillo said in a meeting with Congress.
Castillo issued a sudden curfew order minutes before midnight on Monday, ordering Limeños to stay indoors between 2 a.m. and midnight in an attempt to curb price hike protests.
However, the curfew triggered a new crisis for the Castillo government, as thousands of people took to the streets to challenge it. The government shortened it shortly after 5 p.m. local time.
Tuesday’s new protests added to a broader crisis that began a week ago in Peru over rising inflation, which put Castillo in check just days after he survived an impeachment trial.
Western sanctions on Russia have cut off oil and fertilizer supplies, hurting fragile emerging economies like Peru.
Castillo came to power last year with the overwhelming support of Peru’s rural population, but rising prices have led that same group to stage the biggest protests so far in his term.
The government has repeatedly said, without providing evidence, that the curfew was necessary to prevent looting.