A survey by Ipsos published last week revealed that 83 percent of Peruvians believe that Juan José Santivañez, the Minister of the Interior, should resign. Authorities claim to have dismantled numerous criminal gangs, and even Congress has declared the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua as a terrorist organization, following the same decision made in the U.S. under President Donald Trump.
In January, the Trujillo prosecutor's office was attacked with dynamite, causing concern among the population. Several opposition parties in Congress have called for the dismissal of Santivañez, whose responsibility is to oversee the police and public safety. In response to this situation, it is speculated that Congress could take swift measures to censure and dismiss the minister within a matter of days.
It is known that Peruvian authorities plan to declare a state of emergency and deploy the army in Lima, the capital of the country, following the recent murder of singer Paul Flores, also known as 'El Russo', who belonged to the renowned cumbia group Armonía 10. The attack on the group's bus, which was carrying about 30 people, was carried out in the early hours of Sunday by armed individuals who rode two motorcycles.
The group Armonía 10 issued a statement expressing sorrow over the death of Paul Flores, mortally wounded during the attack. Local media reported that the attackers shot at the vehicle demanding it to stop, severely injuring the 39-year-old singer. After being taken to the Hipólito Unanue hospital in El Agustino, Flores did not survive his injuries.
Extortions against Armonía 10 have been recurrent, with criminals demanding large sums of money in exchange for security. The group has expressed its condolences to Flores' family and promised to seek justice. The murder of Paul Flores has sparked a public outcry against violence and crime in Peru, pressuring the government to take more effective actions regarding safety.
