Thousands Rally in Protests Against Peru's New President in Lima

Thousands rallied in the Peruvian capital Lima on November 12 against the swearing-in of former congress leader Manuel Merino as the country’s new president after he and other opposition leaders ousted President Martín Vizcarra.

Opposition leaders in Peru’s congress removed Vizcarra from office citing “permanent moral incapacity” following allegations that the president committed fraud between 2011 and 2014, local reports said.

Supporters of Vizcarra decried the power shift, calling it a “coup,” reports said.

Large crowds of people took to the streets in the capital city of Peru and elsewhere across the country on Tuesday to voice their dissent towards the new leadership.

On Thursday, members in Peru’s leadership reportedly met to discuss the demonstrations, with a chance the protests could continue through the end of the year.

This footage taken on Wednesday from the Plaza San Martín in Lima shows the large crowd. Credit: Belén Falla via Storyful