Peruvian Prime Minister Ernesto Alvarez on Wednesday urged Congress to grant the government 90 days of legislative powers to enact laws aimed at addressing the country’s escalating security challenges.
Alvarez made the appeal during a presentation before Congress in which he outlined the policy agenda of President Jose Jeri’s administration. Jeri, who was sworn in earlier this month, took office following the ousting of former President Dina Boluarte amid renewed political turbulence.
“The government views security as a matter of state,” Alvarez told lawmakers, stressing the administration’s resolve to restore order and public confidence. “The political and moral mandate of this government is to recover the authority of the state in this short time, restore order in the streets, and ensure that the law once again becomes the expression of justice and not fear,”he said.
Shortly after his address, Jeri’s government secured a vote of confidence in Congress, with 79 votes in favour and five against a traditional show of support marking the start of a new cabinet.
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The government on Tuesday declared a 30-day state of emergency in Lima and the neighbouring province of Callao in response to a surge in violent crime. The decree suspends certain civil liberties and allows the military to assist police operations in restoring public security.
Alvarez also announced plans to tighten prison controls after authorities reported that criminal gangs were coordinating extortion schemes from inside correctional facilities. Additionally, the government intends to freeze bank accounts linked to organised crime as part of efforts to “attack the logistics chain.”
Despite the country’s ongoing political volatility, Peru has had seven presidents since 2018 the administration remains focused on reviving the economy. Alvarez reaffirmed the government’s target of achieving 3.2 per cent economic growth by 2026, supported by increased investment in the mining sector.
Peruvian exports are expected to reach a record $83 billion this year, representing an 11 per cent rise from 2024.
