- Title: Peru protesters scuffle with police over closed congress
- Date: 7th October 2019
- Summary: LIMA, PERU (OCTOBER 7, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS, PEOPLE SCUFFLING WITH POLICE AT PROTEST AGAINST PRESIDENT VIZCARRA'S DISSOLUTION OF CONGRESS PEOPLE CHANTING PEOPLE AT PROTEST HOLDING SIGNS READING (Spanish) "THE PEOPLE TO THE STREETS, THE REDS TO THEIR HOLE," (ON LEFT), AND SIGN WITH IMAGE OF PERUVIAN PRESIDENT, MARTIN VIZCARRA, AND TEXT READING, "DICTATOR" (ON RIGHT) PERSON HOLDING SIGN READING (Spanish) "LEAVE VIZCARRA, NO TO THE COUP" PEOPLE WAVING PERUVIAN FLAGS PEOPLE CHANTING (Spanish) "DOWN WITH THE DICTATORSHIP" (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PERUVIAN PROTESTER, NANCY RIOS, SAYING: "What I don't agree with is that (Peruvian President Martin) Vizcarra has completely become a dictator. In other words, if they don't do what he wants, he closes it, he closes congress, the constitutional court doesn't listen, I'll close it, the judicial authorities don't listen, I'll close it. Where are we living? We average citizens don't understand the laws, but we do demand a true democracy." VARIOUS, SIGNS WITH IMAGE OF VIZCARRA, AND TEXT READING (Spanish), "DICTATOR" PROTEST
- Embargoed: 21st October 2019 20:37
- Keywords: political crisis closed Peru Fujimori congress protesters dissolved Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra protest
- Location: LIMA, PERU
- City: LIMA, PERU
- Country: Peru
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001B03NLMV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Peruvians took to the streets of Lima on Monday (October 7) to oppose Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra's dissolution of congress.
Protesters called Vizcarra's decision to dissolve congress and call new elections a "coup," as they scuffled with police and chanted "down with the dictatorship."
Vizcarra has stressed his decision was part of his constitutional powers and blamed lawmakers for repeatedly trying to block his anti-graft reforms.
Opposition lawmakers have accused Vizcarra of overstepping the bounds of the constitution, and said they would seek to oust him on the grounds he was morally incapable of governing.
The power struggle threatens to hobble governing and could trigger unrest in a country that has seen increased political volatility in recent years.
(Production: Carlos Valdez) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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