Politics of Peru
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Politics of Peru takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Peru is both head of state and head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Congress. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.
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Democratic reform
The Republic of Peru is in a state of ongoing democratization. Led by President Alejandro Toledo, the executive branch is attempting to be transparent and accountable. Previously a rubberstamp body, Peru's unicameral Congress is emerging as a strong counterbalance to the once dominant executive branch, with increased oversight and investigative powers. The executive branch and Congress are attempting to reform the judicial branch, antiquated and rife with corruption.
Peruvians, whose expectations were raised during the 2000 and 2001 election campaigns, are frustrated at the slow pace of economic recovery and job creation. As discontent rises, the Toledo administration is in a race to strengthen the economy so that popular pressures do not force a shift to more radical measures. So far, the Toledo government remains committed to neoliberal economic policies and structural reform in the hope of attracting sufficient international investment to generate growth and job creation.
Other important political currents stem from the ongoing investigation of Fujimori-era corruption (notably the proceedings against Fujimori's former advisor, Vladimiro Montesinos), and an increase in activities by the insurgent group Sendero Luminoso. The recent trial of Abimael Guzmán has been suspended, due in part to Guzmán's use of it as a forum for broadcasting Sendero Luminoso propaganda.
Regarding the latter, the Toledo government has been forced to consider putting resources back into the security forces which they had been hoping to use to fund social programs.
Another relevant opposition leader is nationalist and former military commander Ollanta Humala.
After the impeachment of Fujimori (at present stuck in Chile, awaiting extradition proceedings), Alejandro Toledo could not run for the presidency again. The most recent presidential election was held on Sunday, April 9, 2006, and more than 16 million Peruvians were eligible to vote worldwide. No candidate received more than 50% of the vote, so a runoff election was held in June.
After a bitter and often vitriolic campaign, disgraced former President Alan Garcia won with 53.1% of the vote. Nationalist rival and former coup-plotter, Ollanta Humala, received 46.9%. Mr Garcia, whose first presidency in 1985-1990 was blighted by record-breaking hyperinflation, debt-default and a Maoist insurgency, says that he's learned from his mistakes.
Executive branch
| Main office holders | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Office | Name | Party | Since |
| President | Alan García Pérez | PAP | 28 July 2006 |
| Prime Minister | Jorge del Castillo | PAP | 28 July 2006 |
The President of Peru is popularly elected for a five-year term, and the 1993 constitution permits one consecutive re-election. All citizens above the age of eighteen are entitled and in fact compelled to vote. The first and second vice presidents also are popularly elected but have no constitutional functions unless the president is unable to discharge his duties.
The President appoints the Council of Ministers (Consejo de Ministros, or Cabinet) and Prime Minister (primer ministro). All presidential decree laws or draft bills sent to Congress must be approved by the Council of Ministers. The Prime Minister Pedro Pablo Kuczynski has occupied his position since 16 August 2005, replacing Carlos Ferrero.
Legislative branch
The legislative branch consists of a unicameral Congress (Congreso) of 120 members. elected for a five-year term by proportional representation In addition to passing laws, Congress ratifies treaties, authorizes government loans, and approves the government budget. The president has the power to block legislation with which the executive branch does not agree.
Political parties and elections
- The following election results include names of political parties. See for additional information about parties the List of political parties in Peru. An overview on elections and election results is included in Elections in Peru.
| Candidates - Parties | Votes 1st round | % | Votes 2nd round | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alejandro Toledo Manrique - Peru Possible | 3 871 167 | 36.5 | 5 548 556 | 53.1 | |
| Alan Gabriel Ludwig García Pérez - Peruvian Aprist Party | 2 732 857 | 25.8 | 4 904 929 | 46.9 | |
| Lourdes Celmira Rosario Flores Nano - National Unity | 2 576 653 | 24.3 | - | ||
| Luis Fernando Olivera Vega - Independent Moralizing Front | 1 044 207 | 9.9 | - | ||
| Carlos Alberto Boloña Behr - People's Solution | 179 243 | 1.7 | - | ||
| Ciro Alfredo Gálvez Herrera - Andean Renaissance | 85 436 | 0.8 | - | ||
| Marco Antonio Arrunátegui Cevallos - Project Country | 79 077 | 0.8 | - | ||
| Ricardo Noriega Salaverry - All for Victory | 33 080 | 0.3 | - | ||
| Total (turnout %) | |||||
| Blank | 1 260 193 | 333 546 | |||
| Invalid | 402 436 | 1 341 938 | - | ||
| Source: Oficina Nacional de Procesos Electorales. | |||||
After the impeachment of Fujimori, Alejandro Toledo could not run for the presidency again. The most recent presidential election was held on Sunday, April 9, 2006, and more than 16 million Peruvians were eligible to vote worldwide. With no candidate receiving more than 50% of the vote, there was a runoff election on June 4. After 77% of the second round (runoff) votes had been counted, García led Humala by 55.5% to 45.5% respectively. The latter conceded defeat to his opponent and congratulated his campaign stating at a news conference, "we recognise the results...and we salute the forces that competed against us, those of Mr Garcia". [1] Final results were closer, but still gave García the victory after getting 52.6% of the valid votes against Humala's 47.4%.
| Parties | Congress | Andean Parliament | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % (Valid) | Seats | Votes | % (Valid) | Seats | Substitutes | |
 Union for Peru (Unión por el Perú)
| 2,274,739 | 21.154 | 45 | 2,044,862 | 23.969 | 2 | 4 |
 Peruvian Aprista Party (Partido Aprista Peruano) | 2,213,562 | 20.586 | 36 | 1,927,834 | 22.597 | 2 | 4 |
 National Unity (Unidad Nacional)
| 1,648,577 | 15.331 | 17 | 1,812,384 | 21.244 | 1 | 2 |
 Alliance for the Future (Alianza por el Futuro)
| 1,408,055 | 13.095 | 13 | 793,443 | 9.300 | 0 | 0 |
 Center Front (Frente del Centro)
| 760,245 | 7.070 | 5 | 479,367 | 5.619 | 0 | 0 |
 Peru Possible (Perú Posible) | 441,441 | 4.105 | 2 | 193,685 | 2.270 | 0 | 0 |
 National Restoration (Restauración Nacional) | 432,191 | 4.019 | 2 | 435,845 | 5.109 | 0 | 0 |
 Alliance for Progress (Alianza Para el Progreso) | 248,437 | 2.310 | 0 | 140,506 | 1.647 | 0 | 0 |
 Independent Moralizing Front (Frente Independiente Moralizador) | 156,418 | 1.455 | 0 | 77,514 | 0.909 | 0 | 0 |
 Democratic Force (Fuerza Democrática) | 153,435 | 1.427 | 0 | - | - | - | - |
 National Justice (Justicia Nacional) | 151,163 | 1.406 | 0 | 96,982 | 1.137 | 0 | 0 |
 Socialist Party (Partido Socialista) | 134,164 | 1.248 | 0 | 140,092 | 1.642 | 0 | 0 |
 New Left Movement (Movimiento Nueva Izquierda)
| 133,102 | 1.238 | 0 | 81,699 | 0.958 | 0 | 0 |
 Go on Country (Avanza País) | 122,653 | 1.141 | 0 | 64,220 | 0.753 | 0 | 0 |
 Decentralization Coalition (Concertación Descentralista)
| 91,783 | 0.854 | 0 | - | - | - | - |
 Agricultural People's Front of Peru (Frente Popular Agrícola FIA del Perú - FREPAP) | 85,019 | 0.791 | 0 | - | - | - | - |
 Andean Renaissance (Renacimiento Andino) | 75,444 | 0.702 | 0 | 53,071 | 0.622 | 0 | 0 |
 With Force Peru (Con Fuerza Perú) | 71,383 | 0.664 | 0 | 95,598 | 1.121 | 0 | 0 |
 Peru Now (Perú Ahora) | 46,439 | 0.432 | 0 | 24,571 | 0.288 | 0 | 0 |
 Democratic Reconstruction (Reconstrucción Democrática) | 28,775 | 0.268 | 0 | 27,397 | 0.321 | 0 | 0 |
 Project Country (Proyecto País) | 21,539 | 0.200 | 0 | 20,312 | 0.238 | 0 | 0 |
 Peruvian Resurgence (Resurgimiento Peruano) | 20,579 | 0.191 | 0 | 22,055 | 0.259 | 0 | 0 |
 And It's Called Peru (Y se llama Perú) | 19,859 | 0.185 | 0 | - | - | - | - |
 Let's Make Progress Peru (Progresemos Perú) | 13,998 | 0.130 | 0 | - | - | - | - |
| Total valid | 10,753,000 | 100 | 120 | 8,531,437 | 100 | 5 | 10 |
| Blank | 1,682,753 | 11.543 | 4,133,224 | 28.261 | |||
| Invalid | 2,117,929 | 14.792 | 1,960,563 | 13.405 | |||
| Source: National Office of Electoral Processes | |||||||