Peru is experiencing a period of social protests after Congress appointed Dina Boluarte as president of the country, after dismissing Pedro Castillo. | 

Lima, December 19 (RHC)-- The Peruvian Ministry of Health (Minsa) informed this Sunday that the number of deaths during the nationwide demonstrations demanding the calling of general elections and a new Constitution has risen to 25.

The health portfolio, in its most recent bulletin published on its Twitter account, indicated that of the 25 deaths, nine occurred in the department of Ayacucho, six in Apurímac, three in Cusco, three in Junín, three in La Libertad and one in Arequipa.

The entity mentioned that there have been 287 medical discharges: 56 in Apurimac, 45 in Ayacucho, 37 in Lima, 36 in La Libertad, 35 in Arequipa, 35 in Junin, 16 in Cusco, 15 in Puno and 12 in Huancavelica.  He added that 69 people remain hospitalized: 20 in Ayacucho, 17 in Junín, 12 in La Libertad, six in Ucayali, five in Apurímac, four in Lima, four in Arequipa and one in Huancavelica.

Since December 7th, Peru has been experiencing a period of social protests after the Congress appointed Dina Boluarte as president of the country, after dismissing the head of state Pedro Castillo, who is in preventive prison accused of the alleged crime of rebellion.

Boluarte, who declared a state of national emergency for 30 days, affirmed that she will remain in office and demanded Congress to bring forward the general elections to 2023.  On Sunday, Boluarte, interviewed by a local media, announced that the Public Prosecutor's Office has already started investigations on the death of civilians in the social protests, and the same will be done by the military justice.

During the interview, she pointed out that next Tuesday there will be a change of the President of the Council of Ministers, Pedro Angulo, and also of the Ministers of Education and Culture, who resigned last December 16.  The president appointed by the Congress also downplayed the importance of the popular demonstrations demanding the closing of the Congress, the early elections and the release of President Castillo.

Boluarte asserted that this is "a minimal group, because the great mass of Peruvians want to live in peace."  She revealed that the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that they will grant political asylum to Castillo's family.