Peruvian Prime Minister Aníbal Torres has been heavily criticised after publicly praising Adolf Hitler for turning Germany into "the world's leading economic power" by building roads and airports.
Mr Torres made the comments during a cabinet session in the Andean town of Huancayo, which is at the centre of violent protests over soaring inflation.
He praised the infrastructure created by Hitler and Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini as examples of economic success.
"Italy and Germany were just like us," Mr Torres said.
"But on one occasion, Adolf Hitler visited northern Italy and Mussolini showed him a highway built from Milan to Brecia.
"Hitler saw that, returned to his country and filled it with highways, airports, and he turned Germany into the world's leading economic power.
"We need to work hard. We must make sacrifices."
Violent protests across parts of Peru have entered a second week as the prices of fuel and fertiliser have risen sharply due to Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, engulfing the government of Pedro Castillo in a political crisis.
The German embassy in Lima condemned Mr Torres's speech in a statement posted on Facebook.
"Adolf Hitler was a fascist and genocidal fascist, in whose name the worst war of all time was carried out from Germany and the genocide of 6 million Jews was committed," the statement said.
"With this backdrop, Hitler is not the right reference as an example of any sort."
On Twitter, the Israeli embassy in Peru also criticised the Prime Minister's comments, saying any praise of Hitler was offensive to victims of the Holocaust.
"We regret Peru's political discourse includes Hitler and Mussolini as examples of prosperity," the embassy said.
"Praising him is an offence to the victims of that world tragedy."
The Israeli embassy in Peru later tweeted that Mr Torres had publicly apologised for his comments.
