Peru’s Crime Wave Exposes the Failure of Leadership and Threatens Regional Stability

Peru is facing a criminal epidemic that is no longer contained to isolated regions but has spread alarmingly into the heart of its capital, Lima. According to Prime Minister Ernesto Álvarez, four out of every ten Peruvians have fallen victim to extortion—a staggering indicator of the state’s loss of control over basic law and order. When Crime Becomes the Norm, Who Protects the People? The announcement comes coupled with a declaration of a 30-day state of emergency for Lima and the neighboring port province of Callao. This drastic measure curtails fundamental freedoms such as privacy, freedom of movement, and peaceful...