Peru PM seeks 90-day legislative powers from Congress to tackle security issues

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By Marco Aquino

LIMA (Reuters) -Peruvian Prime Minister Ernesto Alvarez on Wednesday asked Congress to grant the government 90 days of legislative powers to pass laws aimed at tackling security issues.

Alvarez made the request during a presentation to Congress outlining the government plan of President Jose Jeri, who was sworn in earlier this month following the ousting of former President Dina Boluarte.

“The government views security as a matter of state,” he said before Congress.

“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.

In a plenary session, Jeri’s government secured a vote of confidence, with 79 votes in favor and five against, a vote traditionally held at the start of a new cabinet.

On Tuesday, the new government declared a 30-day state of emergency in the capital, Lima, and the neighboring province of Callao to combat rising crime.

Peru has experienced ongoing political instability, with seven presidents since 2018. The government change comes six months ahead of the presidential and congressional elections scheduled for April 12.

On security measures, Alvarez said prison controls would tighten after police reported extortion calls originating inside, with gang members coordinating with those outside.

The government will also freeze bank accounts linked to criminals. “This will attack the logistics chain,” he added.

Alvarez reaffirmed the government’s goal of achieving 3.2% economic growth by 2026, which it expects will boost investment in the key mining sector. Exports are projected to reach a record $83 billion this year, up 11% from 2024.

(Reporting by Marco Aquino; Editing by Stephen Coates and Kate Mayberry)