Fujimori at the Peruvian Congress, 'tell us if you support violence or peace'

Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori urged Congress to define its position on the fight against crime, asking it to clarify whether it is "on the side of violence or on the side of peace". The appeal follows a clash that occurred on Saturday between some left-wing senators and Interior Minister César Astudillo, during the discussion for granting legislative powers to the executive.

Tensions exploded when Senator Ruth Luque accused Astudillo of being afraid to recognize the need for profound police reform. His words provoked a harsh reaction from the minister and solidarity from Fujimori, who denounced a verbal attack and expressed "total support and gratitude for his courage".

Addressing the opposition, the president added that "if we want to fight and defeat crime, it is time for definitions and we must know which side you are on, the Peruvian people will judge us".

Luque defined the reaction of the executive as disproportionate, claiming the right of parliamentary criticism without disrespecting anyone. Senator Iber Maraví also intervened in his defense, according to whom the minister's attitude has brought down the government's false democratic façade, accused of using arrogance to obtain special powers at all costs.