In Peru, blockades and strikes weigh on the country's economy

Clashes between law enforcement and demonstrators in Lima, January 26, 2023. AP - Martin Mejia

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2 mins

The Peruvian government has ordered the intervention of the police and the army to clear the dozens of roadblocks erected across the country by demonstrators demanding the resignation of President Dina Boluarte.

Clashes between security forces and demonstrators have left at least 56 dead in a month and a half of crisis. 

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With our correspondent in Lima,

Juliette Chaignon

The Minister of the Economy evokes more than 500 million dollars of losses since the beginning of the mobilizations six weeks ago, or 0.22% of the Peruvian annual GDP.

Peru has been in the grip of a serious political crisis since

the dismissal and arrest on December 7 of socialist President Pedro Castillo

, accused of an attempted coup for having wanted to dissolve the Parliament which was preparing to oust him from power.

Clashes between security forces and demonstrators

demanding the resignation of President Dina Boluarte and immediate elections have left at least 56 people dead and more than a thousand injured.

In Ica, Arequipa, in the south of the country, it is difficult to supply the markets with fruit and vegetables.

Due to blocked roads.

Authorities on Thursday identified 88 barricades on roads in 8 of Peru's 25 regions.

Same problem in Puerto Maldonado, an isolated area in the Amazon rainforest: shortage of fuel and gas.

The bottle costs 60 dollars, four times more than normal.

Dams cause shortages and drive up prices.

Tourism at a standstill

Nor can farmers export their production.

The losses are estimated at 150 million dollars, according to an agricultural union.

Even if many of the protesters are themselves farmers and say they are ready to make the sacrifice. 

Another sector at a standstill: tourism.

In Cusco, in the Andes, access to Machu Picchu is closed.

And 50% to 60% of tourist reservations have been canceled in the country.

The fear is also a loss of investor confidence, higher inflation and lower growth than the already low forecast of 2.9%.

While Peru is still struggling to recover economically from the pandemic. 

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