After yet another president falls, Peru’s Gen Z takes the streets again: Video
Thousands of young Peruvians filled the streets of Lima this week, demanding the resignation of interim president José Jeri and denouncing Congress for its failure to address corruption and insecurity.
What began as a peaceful demonstration soon escalated into violent clashes near Plaza Francia, leaving more than a hundred people injured — including protesters, police officers, and journalists.
The protests, organised largely through social media and supported by labour unions, have become the latest chapter in Peru’s cycle of political instability. Demonstrators carried banners reading “Fuera Jeri” (“Jeri Out”) and “Marcha por el Futuro” (“March for the Future”), accusing the political class of operating as a “mafia pact” disconnected from ordinary citizens. “We are marching because there is a corrupt and criminal system", said one protester to Viory.
The unrest follows the impeachment of former president Dina Boluarte last week, after Congress declared her “morally unfit” to govern. Her removal paved the way for Jeri, then head of Congress, to assume the presidency — a move that many Peruvians see as unconstitutional and emblematic of a system resistant to reform. Critics argue that the new administration offers no real change from the entrenched political elite that has dominated Peru for years.
The death of 32-year-old rapper Eduardo Ruiz, known artistically as Trvko, has added urgency and outrage to the protests. Ruiz was shot during the clashes in Plaza Francia, allegedly by a police officer. His killing has turned him into a symbol for a generation demanding justice, transparency, and a new political order.
As anger simmers, Peru’s Generation Z appears to be stepping into a leadership role in the country’s political awakening. For many of them, the fight is not only against corruption but also against a sense of hopelessness that has taken root after years of failed governments. Whether their movement can translate protest into lasting political change remains an open question — but the message from Lima’s streets is clear: the country’s youth are no longer willing to stay silent.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
