Peru Descends into Chaos as Thousands Demand Interim President José Jerí's Resignation

Thousands of Peruvians took to the streets in Lima on October 15, 2025, demanding the resignation of interim President José Jerí and members of Congress. The protests, led by Generation Z activists and joined by unions, students, and transport workers, turned violent as protesters clashed with riot police, leaving one dead and over 100 injured. The victim was identified as 31-year-old Eduardo Mauricio Ruiz. The protests are sparked by alleged corruption, incompetence, and right-wing policies favoring elites, as well as proposed legislation easing firearm and mining regulations.

Key Takeaways:

• The protests in Peru on October 15, 2025, were the most violent since interim President José Jerí's appointment last week, with one protester dead and over 100 injured.
• The victim was identified as 31-year-old Eduardo Mauricio Ruiz, and the state ombudsman's office has opened an investigation into alleged police misconduct.
• Protesters accuse Jerí's government of corruption, incompetence, and pursuing right-wing policies that favor elites while ignoring rising crime and inequality.
• The protests were led by Generation Z activists and joined by unions, students, and transport workers, chanting "¡Jerí, out!" and calling for early elections.
• Jerí's government has proposed legislation easing firearm and mining regulations, amid a surge in gang violence and extortion that has claimed hundreds of lives this year.
• Jerí's approval rating remains in single digits, reflecting Peru's deep political fatigue.
• Maria Alvarez, a 22-year-old student organizer, referred to the deadly 2022-2023 protests under former president Dina Boluarte, saying "This Congress is corrupt—they change presidents like puppets while we bury our dead."
• Jerí, 38, was sworn in on October 10 after Boluarte's ouster for "moral incapacity."

Statistics:

• 1 protester dead and over 100 injured
• 31 years old: the age of the victim, Eduardo Mauricio Ruiz
• 38 years old: the age of interim President José Jerí
• 10: the day interim President José Jerí was sworn in after Boluarte's ouster
• 2000-2022: the years Al Bawaba's copyright is mentioned

Sources:

• "Thousands of Peruvians took to the streets of Lima on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, demanding the resignation of interim President José Jerí and members of Congress, in the most violent unrest since his appointment last week." - Al Bawaba
• "The demonstrations, led by Generation Z activists and joined by unions, students, and transport workers, turned chaotic as protesters clashed with riot police near the Congress building, hurling rocks, tearing down barricades, and setting effigies on fire while chanting “¡Jerí, out!” and calling for early elections." - Al Bawaba
• "Police responded with tear gas and rubber bullets, sealing off Plaza San Martín and Abancay Avenue." - Al Bawaba
• "The violence left one protester dead and more than 100 people injured, including civilians and security officers, according to the state ombudsman's office, which opened an investigation into alleged police misconduct." - Al Bawaba
• "Dozens were arrested for vandalism and public disorder." - Al Bawaba
• "Protesters accuse Jerí’s government of corruption, incompetence, and pursuing right-wing policies that favor elites while ignoring rising crime and inequality." - Al Bawaba
• "Anger has grown over proposed legislation easing firearm and mining regulations, amid a surge in gang violence and extortion that has claimed hundreds of lives this year." - Al Bawaba
• "“This Congress is corrupt—they change presidents like puppets while we bury our dead,” said Maria Alvarez, a 22-year-old student organizer, referring to the deadly 2022–2023 protests under former president Dina Boluarte." - Al Bawaba
• "Jerí, 38, a lawmaker from the center-right Somos Perú party, was sworn in on October 10 after Boluarte’s ouster for “moral incapacity.”" - Al Bawaba