Andean Region Briefing: Peru’s New President Faces Her First Interpellation

Peru's new president, Keiko Fujimori, has faced her first parliamentary interpellation only six weeks after taking office. The interior minister, César Astudillo, was summoned to answer questions about his performance, specifically regarding a kidnapping and associated criminal activities. Fujimori's administration is also grappling with the threat of an El Niño weather event, which scientists estimate has a 62% chance of occurring between September 2026 and January 2027.

The Andean region has been grappling with issues like organized crime and unpredictable weather patterns. In Peru, the new government's interior minister was called before Congress due to concerns over a surge in criminal activity. Across the region, Ecuador implemented a nighttime curfew in four coastal provinces to address growing insecurity.

Fujimori has criticized her predecessors for failing to address these issues promptly, citing a lack of action between February and July. Her administration has taken steps to mitigate some of these problems, such as clearing rivers, reinforcing bridges, and strengthening riverbanks. The central bank governor warned that the economic impact of the El Niño could be larger than previously estimated.

In Ecuador, the government defended its decision to award American maritime operations with a prestigious decoration, despite opposition from the country's human rights committee, which estimated the impact of the El Niño on 143 fishermen and nine sunken vessels. Meanwhile, Colombia and Ecuador have suspended visa-free travel agreements following diplomatic relations being reestablished with Israel.