STORY: Peru's youth rallied on Saturday (September 27) for another round of protests against President Dina Boluarte as clashes with police erupted near the Congress with agents shoting tear gas to disperse participants.

The protests erupted on September 20 following reforms to the country's pension system that required all Peruvians above the age of 18 to join a pension provider, but were also fueled by longstanding anger against Boluarte and Congress.

On Saturday, students and Gen Z’s were also joined by members of transport drivers’ collectives and merchants discontent with rising insecurity.

The discontent has been fueled by corruption scandals, economic insecurity, rising crime and anger over a lack of accountability over dozens of protesters who were killed by security forces when Boluarte assumed power in late 2022 after former President Pedro Castillo was removed from office and arrested.

The Institute of Peruvian Studies' July report shows Boluarte's approval rating at 2.5%, with Congress' at 3%.

Peru's Gen Z protests follow youth demonstrations in Indonesia and Nepal. A common feature in the demonstrations has been a skull in a straw hat, a symbol from the Japanese manga "One Piece" about treasure-hunting pirates.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: LIMA, PERU (SEPTEMBER 27, 2025) (REUTERS - Access All) (NIGHT SHOT)

1. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS PULLING DOWN FENCES

2. PROTESTER THROWING TEAR GAS CANISTER AT POLICE

3. REPORTERS RUNNING AWAY FROM FIRECRACKERS

4. RIOT POLICE FIRING TEAR GAS

5. SMOKE IN STREET

6. PROTESTER RUNNING AWAY FROM TEAR GAS

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PROTESTER, CARLOS, SAYING:

"They are the violent ones, the people have come unarmed, just to protest."

8. LEGS WITH INJURIES CAUSED BY RUBBER BULLETS BEING TREATED

9. PROTESTER MARIA BARRIENTOS BEING TREATED

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PROTESTER, MARIA BARRIENTOS, SAYING:

"We were protesting calmly and unfortunately they attacked the people, fired pellets, tear gas. The police are good against the people but when it comes to catching criminals and hitmen, they aren"t."

11. SIGNS WITH FACES OF PRESIDENT DINA BOLUARTE (LEFT) AND OPPOSITION LEADER KEIKO FUJIMORI (RIGHT) READING (Spanish): "Assassins"

12. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PROTESTER, ALEJANDRO, SAYING:

"We want to make changes so that in five years, the kids who are 10 or 13 years old don"t have to take to the streets. We want them to grow up in a better country and develop professionally, be with their families, and maybe spend weekends with their families. We could be watching a movie, going out, eating with friends, but we can"t, as this situation cannot continue the way it is."

13. FLAG WITH EMBLEM FROM JAPANESE MANGA "ONE PIECE"