Peru's Prime Minister, Ernesto Álvarez, announced on Thursday that the Government is preparing a declaration of a state of emergency in Lima in the coming hours to address the criminality that has led to strikes and protest mobilizations due to cases of extortion and hired killings that have affected various economic sectors in the country, as reported by EFE.
Speaking to the press, the President of the Council of Ministers explained that "it cannot simply be an ethereal declaration, but it must be accompanied by a package of measures."
In a state of emergency, the Armed Forces provide support to the National Police to regain territorial control and take actions against organized crime. Some fundamental rights, such as freedom of assembly and movement, are also suspended.
He added that the interim president, José Jerí, has instructed the cabinet to prepare that package of measures as soon as possible, and when they have those measures, they will make the official announcement.
"Here no one covers up for anyone, no one will pretend to take insubstantial measures," expressed the head of the cabinet.
Álvarez pointed out that the president is committed to having his technical teams produce all the measures that may be appropriate, and only the best measures will be regulated.
In turn, the Minister of Justice, Walter Martínez, indicated that they will wait for the necessary reports to give impetus to this measure, which will be announced in the coming days.
The announcement of the probable state of emergency in Metropolitan Lima came after a session of the Council of Ministers at the Government Palace, following a day in which the Executive was investigating the events of Wednesday's protest march, which ended with a protester killed by a police officer's gunshot, as well as around thirty civilian injuries and 80 injured officers.