Peru’s capital, Lima, and its neighboring port city, Callao, woke up to an extraordinary new reality on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, as a sweeping state of emergency took effect. The measure, declared by interim President José Jerí the night before, marks the most forceful attempt yet by Peru’s government to confront a relentless wave of violence, extortion, and public unrest that has shaken the nation to its core.
Approved by the Council of Ministers, the 30-day state of emergency gives authorities sweeping powers: the army will patrol alongside police, and civil liberties—including the freedom of assembly and movement—will be sharply curtailed. In his brief televised address, President Jerí was unequivocal: “Crime has grown out of control in recent years, causing immense pain to thousands of families and slowing the country’s progress. But that ends today. We begin to change the history of insecurity in Peru.” According to AP and Al Jazeera, this is the first major policy move by Jerí since he was sworn in as interim president nearly two weeks ago, following the dramatic ouster of his predecessor, Dina Boluarte.
The context for this drastic step is alarming. Between January and September 2025 alone, police reported 1,690 homicides in Peru—a sharp increase from 1,502 during the same period the previous year, as detailed by AP and El País. Extortion cases have soared to an estimated 18,000 for the year, up 30 percent from 2024, with urban transportation workers and even musicians among the most vulnerable. According to El País, some 180 drivers and fare collectors have been killed so far in 2025 for refusing to pay protection money to local mafias.
President Jerí’s rise to power came amid political turmoil. On October 10, 2025, Congress impeached and removed Dina Boluarte, citing her inability to stem the crime wave and restore order. Jerí, formerly president of Congress, was sworn in immediately and has since sought to project a tough-on-crime image, visiting prisons, participating in police operations, and making highly publicized appearances in the capital. Yet, his approach has not been without controversy. As El País notes, Jerí’s public walk through downtown Lima during anti-government protests was seen by some as a provocative gesture.
The state of emergency comes on the heels of intense protests, many led by Generation Z activists who have been at the forefront of demanding government accountability and effective action against violence and corruption. According to Al Jazeera and AP, demonstrations last Thursday, October 16, turned violent, resulting in the death of one civilian and injuries to about 100 others, including police officers and journalists. Despite mounting calls for his resignation, Jerí has stood firm, declaring, “Wars are won with actions, not words.”
The government’s decree, published after Jerí’s address, spells out a range of measures. The National Police will retain control of internal order, now bolstered by the Armed Forces. Military personnel will patrol the streets and are authorized to act jointly with police to suppress criminal activity and demonstrations. Notably, the decree also bans two people from riding together on motorcycles—a tactic aimed at curbing drive-by shootings and extortion rackets. Tightened prison security is another pillar of the plan: prison visits will be restricted, electricity in cells will be cut off at intervals, and illegal telecommunications antennas—believed to facilitate criminal operations from inside prisons—are slated for destruction.
Yet, for all the tough talk, the announcement has raised as many questions as it has answered. As El País and Al Jazeera report, Jerí’s speech was strikingly brief and light on specifics, leaving many citizens uncertain about what concrete steps would follow. Prime Minister Ernesto Álvarez had previously insisted, “Unlike on other occasions, this cannot simply be an abstract, subjective declaration that doesn’t serve ordinary citizens.” But the decree’s lack of detail—especially regarding intelligence-gathering to combat extortion—has drawn criticism from analysts and the public alike.
The artistic community, in particular, voiced concerns about the potential impact of a curfew, which could devastate those who earn their living at night. Musicians have become frequent targets for extortionists, and the murder of cumbia singer Paul Flores and the attack on the band Agua Marina have made headlines nationwide. The final decree did not include a curfew, a move that may offer some relief to nightlife workers but does little to address their safety fears.
Jerí’s government faces a daunting challenge: previous states of emergency, including one declared by Boluarte in March 2025 after the murder of a famous musician, have failed to deliver lasting results. Security experts and critics argue that repeated emergency declarations have become a political reflex rather than a solution. A recent survey by Peru’s National Institute of Statistics and Informatics found that 59% of Peruvians consider insecurity and crime to be the country’s most serious problems—a sentiment that has only intensified as extortion and homicide rates climb.
Meanwhile, the killing of rapper Eduardo Ruiz Sáenz by an undercover police officer has cast a troubling shadow over Jerí’s administration. The case remains under investigation, with conflicting statements from police chief Óscar Arriola and Interior Minister Vicente Tiburcio fueling public distrust. The judiciary has admitted a habeas corpus petition that could see the officer released, further stoking controversy.
Political observers warn that the true motive behind the state of emergency may be as much about quelling dissent as fighting crime. The government’s expanded powers include the ability to suppress anti-government demonstrations—an aspect that has not gone unnoticed by activists and rights groups. As El País points out, more than one analyst sees this as an attempt to “extinguish the flames of popular unrest and weather the political storm” until the next elections, scheduled for April 2026.
Still, Jerí insists his government is charting a new course. “We are moving from defense to offense in the fight against crime, a fight that will allow us to regain peace, tranquility, and the trust of millions of Peruvians,” he said in his address. Whether this tougher stance will finally turn the tide against Peru’s crime epidemic—or simply deepen the nation’s divisions—remains to be seen. For now, the people of Lima and Callao face a month under military watch, hoping that this latest emergency will bring the security and stability they so desperately crave.
