Peruvians long for a Bukele-like strongman to beat crime
Amid rife insecurity, people are despairing of their crooked politicians

On March 16th members of a legendary Peruvian cumbia band, Armonía 10, were heading from one packed concert venue to the next in Lima, Peru’s capital, when men on motorcycles attacked their bus. Bullets flew through the windshield, killing the band’s lead singer, Paul Flores. Waiting fans gasped in horror at the news. Police suspect the attack was related to an extortion attempt by a local gang.
Explore more
This article appeared in the The Americas section of the print edition under the headline “Seeking Peru’s Bukele”

From the April 5th 2025 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the edition
Milei’s bold move: making Argentina’s economy normal
A gob of IMF cash will help partially float the peso, but political and market risks abound

The green promises of Colombia’s president ring ever more hollow
Costly imported gas? Sure! Big gas discovery? Great!

Can Mexico make hay after avoiding the reciprocal-tariff tantrum?
It may struggle to do so
Negotiators must prepare for a chaotic COP in Brazil
The climate meeting will be hot, humid and uncomfortable. That might help
Latin American migrants transfer money like never before
Amidst Donald Trump’s threats of mass deportation, migrants try to secure their cash
Brazil’s government-run payments system has become dominant
Pix has spiced up Brazil’s fusty banking sector, but it gives the central bank a worrying amount of power