Peru’s new President Jose Jeri refused to resign on Thursday following the death of a protester during a massive demonstration led by Gen Z activists demanding he step down.
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About 100 people were also injured, including 80 police officers and 10 journalists, according to authorities, who said they were investigating the shooting and killing of the protester.
“My responsibility is to maintain the stability of the country; that is my responsibility and my commitment,” Jeri told the local press after visiting Peru’s Parliament, where he said he would request powers to combat crime.
The protests began a month ago calling for better pensions and wages for young people and expanded to capture the woes of Peruvians tired of crime, corruption and decades of disillusion with their government.
After Jeri, the seventh president in less than a decade, was sworn in on October 10, protesters called for him and other lawmakers to resign.
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