Soldiers head towards Ica, Peru, to support security forces seeking to evict protesters blocking the Pan-American highway, on January 30, 2023. Photo Afp

After weeks of deadly protests demanding the resignation of President Dina Boluarte, Peru's Congress has agreed to discuss bringing forward general elections to 2023.

The decision was reached with 66 votes in favor, 49 against and 6 abstentions,

and now legislators will begin to debate a formula to set a possible date for presidential and congressional elections.

On Friday, lawmakers rejected a proposal to set October as general election month and Jan. 1, 2024, as the start of the term for the new president and new 130 lawmakers in the unicameral parliament.

The reconsideration occurs in the midst of protests for almost two months by thousands of Peruvians calling for the resignation of Boluarte, as well as members of Parliament to be replaced in new elections.

The demonstrations have so far left at least 58 dead and hundreds injured, according to the authorities.

In the event that agreements are not reached, Boluarte and the 130 legislators will have to continue in their functions until 2026 as established by law.

Boluarte said on Sunday that "if the consensus to debate the advancement of elections to 2023 does not prosper", the government will present two legislative initiatives, the first with which it will request an advancement of elections for October and the second, that the next Congress entrusts to it. to the Constitution Commission "the total reform of the constitution."

Over the weekend, a Peruvian who was attending a protest died of a head injury, bringing the death toll in almost two months to 58, all civilians, except one who was a policeman who died charred in the Andes.

(With information from La Jornada)

See also:

Peru, a testing ground for coups