CIVICUS discusses the wave of Gen Z-led protests in Peru with young Peruvian activist Wildalr Lozano.

Unpopular changes to the pension system in September triggered a mass mobilisation that quickly turned into a movement against corruption, insecurity and institutional crisis. Organised mainly through social media and without formal leaders, the protests brought together young people and workers from a range of fields around a common demand for structural change. Police repression intensified public outrage and contributed to President Dina Boluarte’s removal on 10 October. Following violent clashes, the government has declared a state of emergency in the capital, Lima.

What sparked the protests, and what were people’s demands?

On 27 August, Congress approved deeply unpopular changes to the pension system. The new law required people over 18 years old to join a private fund, eliminated the right to withdraw 95.5 per cent of the accumulated fund on retirement and imposed a requirement of at least 20 years of uninterrupted contributions to qualify for a minimum pension of around 600 soles (approx. US$175) a month. Additionally, it stipulated that self-employed workers would start contributing two per cent of their income from 2028, increasing gradually to five per cent. In a country where much of the population works in the informal sector and relies on daily earnings, these requirements are impossible to meet.

Days after the law was passed, people took to the streets. Initially, the demand was for the reform to be repealed. The government responded with partial measures, reinstating the 95.5 per cent withdrawal and eliminating the mandatory contribution for self-employed workers. However, this was no longer enough: the movement had grown, and so had its demands.

The outrage soon transcended economic issues to target the political and economic system that perpetuates inequality and exclusion. People expressed their weariness with corruption and criminal violence, demanding a voice in the decisions that affect their future rather than being held hostage to policies imposed from above. We demanded our basic right to live with dignity and security.

What distinguishes these protests from previous ones?

This wave of protest has no visible leaders or formal structures. Coordinated through social media, messaging groups and community channels, it is more agile, horizontal and decentralised than previous ones.

This reflects a generational change. Young people, particularly those belonging to Gen Z, have shown that strong movements can be driven without relying on political parties or traditional trade unions.

These protests have not been driven by partisan or ideological interests, but by a genuine desire to rebuild trust in institutions and transform our country from the ground up. Consequently, the mobilisation has become a meeting point for diverse voices that have historically been fragmented. Young people, pensioners, workers, transport workers, motorcycle taxi drivers, traders, university students, trade unions, artists and micro-entrepreneurs have united to demand an end to abuse, corruption and indifference.

How did the government respond?

The government was unwilling to engage in dialogue. Rather than listening to our demands, it tried to minimise and criminalise the protests. Boluarte said marches and strikes ‘solve nothing’, revealing how out of touch the authorities are.

During the protests of 20 and 21 September, around 5,000 police officers surrounded protesters in Plaza San Martín, in the centre of Lima, using drones, laser lights and teargas. Images of the repression spread rapidly, including one showing an older man being brutally beaten by a police officer. Testimonies from young people who had been assaulted and detained without cause went viral. All of this provoked an even greater wave of indignation. State violence became a symbol of the establishment’s fear in the face of popular mobilisation.

The breaking point came with an armed attack during a concert by the band Agua Marina on 9 October. Two men on a motorbike fired shots from behind the stage, injuring four band members. Investigations suggest that organised crime gangs involved in extortion carried out the attack. Agua Marina had reported receiving threats since 2022, and the attack occurred amid escalating criminal violence that had already caused the deaths of other musicians.

A few days later, Congress removed Boluarte from office due to ‘permanent moral incapacity’, and José Jerí, president of Congress, assumed the interim presidency in accordance with the constitution, as Boluarte had no vice presidents. Jerí became Peru’s seventh president since 2016 amid a deep political crisis.

What’s needed for structural change to happen?

The authorities must recognise the legitimacy of our demands and establish genuine dialogue channels. The public will not settle for superficial solutions. Only a profound transformation in the way decisions are made will do. The new government must prove it’s up to the task, particularly in the lead-up to the next election, as people will be less willing than usual to accept empty promises.

These protests were a turning point. People, particularly young people, have lost their fear and understand change requires constant participation. If this energy keeps up and translates into informed voting and democratic vigilance, it will have a lasting impact. Peru is tired, but also more awake and united than ever. Perhaps the most important change we’re seeing is the realisation that people have power and cannot be ignored.