Peru

From World Questions by BBC World Service

October 11, 2025 · 49 min

About this episode

The episode discusses Peru's economic progress and the political challenges it faces, featuring a panel of experts.

This South American country has escaped from poverty and paramilitary violence that once threatened the state itself; huge reserves of natural resources have helped boost the economy. But political instability and high crime threaten those hard-won gains, sparking mass protests across the country. President Dina Boluarte was reckoned to be one of the world’s most unpopular heads of state. The programme was recorded on 7th October before her removal by Congress. Jonny Dymond is joined by a panel of leading politicians taking questions from an audience at the Teatro Ricardo Blume in the country’s capital Lima. The Panel: Mercedes Araoz: Former Prime Minister of Peru, Professor of International Economy, University of the Pacific Sigrid Bazán: Congresswoman (Nuevo Perú), former President of the Labour Commission Tarcila Rivera Zea: Founder of the Centre for Indigenous Cultures of Peru, former member of the UN Permanent Forum of Indigenous Issues Diana Gonzales: Congresswoman (Avanza País), Vice Chair of the Energy and Mines Committee Producer: Charlie Taylor (Photo: Protesters clash with police in Peru. Credit: Reuters)

People in this episode

Host: Jonny Dymond

Guests: Mercedes Araoz, Sigrid Bazán, Tarcila Rivera Zea, Diana Gonzales

Topics covered

political instability
economic development
protests
Peru
government
crime

Keywords

Peru
Dina Boluarte
political instability
mass protests
economic development
crime
Teatro Ricardo Blume

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Teatro Ricardo Blume, University of the Pacific, Nuevo Perú, Centre for Indigenous Cultures of Peru, Avanza País

Places: Peru