Peru Congress reconsiders early election as unrest continues
PBS NewsHourDec 24, 2022
Peru: Congress Tentatively Approves Plans for Early Elections
Image copyright: Peruvian Congress/AFP [via RFI]
The Facts
Peru's Congress tentatively approved on Tuesday a plan backed by Pres. Dina Boluarte to bring forward general elections by two years to April 2024, with 91 lawmakers of the 130-member legislature supporting it in a bid to alleviate the country's political crisis.
The constitutional reform to shorten Boluarte's term to July 2024 will require another vote of approval by a two-thirds majority in the next legislative period, which starts after Jan. 31, 2023.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
The fact that Peru has already had six presidents since 2016 speaks volumes about the country's political situation and underscores what a difficult legacy Boluarte is taking on. It's a positive sign that the coup attempt by the ultra-leftist and corrupt Castillo failed thanks to the resilience of Peruvians. If Boluarte now succeeds in forming a strong government and implementing structural reforms, there's good reason for optimism for Peruvian democracy.
Establishment-critical narrative
The ongoing protests highlight that the justified ouster of the unpopular Castillo is by no means the end of the ongoing political crisis in Peru. Poor Peruvians have legitimate doubts that the dysfunctional democratic system will change anything about their desperate situation. That's why snap elections would likely benefit populist candidates. It's uncertain whether Boluarte will manage to keep Peru from becoming ungovernable.