Peru Interior Minister faces censure motion over rising crime

motion of censure César Astudillo public insecurity Peru politics criminality

Peruvian lawmakers from the Juntos por el Perú, Obras, and Partido del Buen Gobierno parliamentary groups have officially filed a motion of censure against Interior Minister César Astudillo. The motion alleges a manifest incapacity to lead the sector amidst a surge in lethal violence and organized crime. Lawmakers specifically cited the murder of journalist and regional candidate Susy Aponte Polo as evidence of the government's failure to provide adequate protection.

Statistics cited in the motion indicate that Peru recorded 1,499 homicides through August 2026, a figure that exceeds the annual totals reported between 2017 and 2023. While several groups support the censure, the Ahora Nación bloc has declined to join the motion, stating they wish to hear the minister's defense first.

In response to the security crisis, Minister Astudillo has defended the Executive's plan to reform the Weapons Law. He argued that stricter controls on firearm traceability and civil armament are necessary to combat the rise in contract killings. Meanwhile, President of the Council of Ministers Luis Galarreta Velarde reaffirmed the government's commitment to fighting criminal organizations and defended the request for legislative powers to accelerate security and infrastructure responses.

Entities

Alex Segura · Chamber of Deputies · César Astudillo · Juntos por el Perú · Keiko Fujimori · Luis Galarreta Velarde · Movadef · Obras · Susy Aponte Polo

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[○ 1 SOURCE] The Ahora Nación group has declined to support the censure motion until the minister provides further explanations. n60.pe
[● 3 SOURCES] The motion cites the aggravation of lethal violence and the rise in criminality as grounds for the censure. infopress.pe · n60.pe · diariocorreo.pe
[○ 1 SOURCE] Peru recorded 1,499 homicides through August 2026, a figure exceeding the annual totals from 2017 to 2023. diariocorreo.pe
[● 3 SOURCES] The murder of journalist and regional candidate Susy Aponte Polo is a key argument used by lawmakers to question the Minister's management. infopress.pe · diariocorreo.pe · www.cronicaviva.com.pe
[○ 1 SOURCE] The Executive branch seeks to tighten controls on firearm traceability and civil armament through legislative powers.
[● 2 SOURCES] President of the Council of Ministers Luis Galarreta Velarde stated the government is fighting a frontal battle against criminal organizations. www.proycontra.com.pe · senalalternativa.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Interior Minister César Astudillo defended proposed reforms to the Weapons Law, stating the changes will proceed despite criticism from business groups.
[● 3 SOURCES] The parliamentary groups Juntos por el Perú, Obras, and Partido del Buen Gobierno have filed a motion of censure against Interior Minister César Astudillo. infopress.pe · n60.pe · diariocorreo.pe