The deadline for Peru to announce new elections will expire today as President Dina Boluarte struggles to quell rising civil unrest – Photo: Guadalupe Pardo/AP

The deadline for the Congress of Peru to set a date for new elections expires today.

The congress has previously rejected multiple proposals by Peruvian President Dina Boluarte to move the date of the elections from 2026 to 2023 in order to quell widespread civil unrest.

Frustrations escalated to protests last December after former President Pedro Castillo was  impeached by congress over an attempted coup d’etat. Political instability and lack of a popular mandate following Boluarte’s appointment have led to abysmal approval ratings for both congress and Bolurate, fueling protestors’ demands for their resignations, new elections, and the creation of an assembly to rewrite the country’s constitution. In response, the government has cracked down on protestors and renewed  state of emergency declarations for provinces across the country.

A date for new elections is expected to be set due to the sheer size of the protests. There is a low chance that elections will be held in 2023 in order to minimize electoral loses due the entire congress’ unpopularity. Political instability, violence and the likelihood of civil war may increase in the medium term if the country fails to implement major political reforms to regain the people’s trust.