Politics of Peru

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Peru

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Politics of the Republic 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.

Contents

[edit] Democratic reform

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The Republic of Peru is in a state of ongoing democratization. Led by President Alan García, 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.[dated info] 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.[dated info]

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.[dated info]

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.[dated info]

Another relevant opposition leader is nationalist and former military commander Ollanta Humala.

After the impeachment of Fujimori (at present in jail), 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, wide-scale corruption and a Maoist insurgency, says that he's learned from his mistakes.

[edit] Executive branch

Main office holders
Office Name Party Since
President Alan García Pérez American Popular Revolutionary Alliance 28 July 2006
Prime Minister José Antonio Chang American Popular Revolutionary Alliance 14 September 2010

Under the current constitution, the President is the head of state and government; he or she is elected for a five-year term and may not immediately be re-elected.[1] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Political parties and elections

For other political parties see List of political parties in Peru. An overview on elections and election results is included in Elections in Peru.
e • d Summary of the 9 April and 4 June 2006 Peruvian presidential election results
Candidates - Parties Votes 1st round % (Valid Votes) Votes 2nd round % (Valid Votes)
Ollanta Humala Tasso - Union for Peru (Unión por el Perú) 3,758,258 30.616 6,270,080 47.375
Alan García Pérez - Peruvian Aprista Party (Partido Aprista Peruano) 2,985,858 24.324 6,965,017 52.625
Lourdes Flores Nano - National Unity (Unidad Nacional) 2,923,280 23.814 - -
Martha Chávez Cossio - Alliance for the Future (Alianza por el Futuro) 912,420 7.433 - -
Valentín Paniagua Corazao - Center Front (Frente de Centro) 706,156 5.753 - -
Humberto Lay Sun - National Restoration (Restauración Nacional) 537,564 4.379 - -
Susana Villarán - Decentralization Coalition (Concertación Descentralista) 76,105 0.620 - -
Jaime Salinas - National Justice (Justicia Nacional) 65,636 0.535 - -
Javier Diez Canseco - Socialist Party (Partido Socialista) 60,955 0.497 - -
Natale Amprimo - Alliance for Progress (Alianza Para el Progreso) 49,332 0.402 - -
Pedro Koechlin Von Stein - With Force Peru (Con Fuerza Perú) 38,212 0.311 - -
Alberto Moreno - New Left Movement (Movimiento Nueva Izquierda) 33,918 0.276 - -
Alberto Borea - Democratic Force (Fuerza Democrática) 24,584 0.200 - -
Ulises Humala - Go On Country (Avanza País) 24,518 0.200 - -
Ciro Gálvez - Andean Renaissance (Renacimiento Andino) 22,892 0.186 - -
Javier Espinoza - Let's Make Progress Peru (Progresemos Perú) 13,965 0.114 - -
José Cardó Guarderas - Democratic Reconstruction (Reconstrucción Democrática) 11,925 0.097 - -
Ántero Asto - Peruvian Resurgence (Resurgimiento Peruano) 10,857 0.088 - -
Ricardo Wong - And It's Called Peru (Y se llama Perú) 10,539 0.086 - -
Luis Guerrero - Peru Now (Perú Ahora) 8,410 0.069 - -
Total valid (Turnout: 1st Round 88.706 %, 2nd Round 87.712 %) 12,275,384 100 13,235,097 100
Blank 1,737,045 11.872 157,863 1.091
Invalid 619,574 4.234 1,075,089 7.431
Source: National Office of Electoral Processes.
e • d Summary of the 9 April 2006 election results for members of the Congress of the Republic of Peru and Peruvian members of the Andean Parliament
Parties Congress Andean Parliament
Votes % (Valid) Seats Votes % (Valid) Seats Substitutes
Union for Peru (Unión por el Perú)
includes Peruvian Nationalist Party (Partido Nacionalista Peruano)
 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
Possible Peru (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)
member of Broad Left Front (Frente Amplio de Izquierda) coalition
 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

[edit] Judicial branch

The judicial branch of government is headed by a 16-member Supreme Court seated in Lima. The National Council of the Judiciary appoints judges to this court.

The Constitutional Court (Tribunal Constitucional) interprets the constitution on matters of individual rights. Superior courts in regional capitals review appeals from decisions by lower courts. Courts of first instance are located in provincial capitals and are divided into civil, penal, and special chambers. The judiciary has created several temporary specialized courts in an attempt to reduce the large backlog of cases pending final court action.

Peru's legal system is based on civil law system. Peru has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction. In 1996 a human rights ombudsman's office (defensor del pueblo) was created to address human rights issues.

[edit] Administrative divisions

Peru's territory, according to the Regionalization Law which was passed on 18 November 2002, is divided into 25 regions (regiones). These regions are subdivided into provinces, which are composed of districts. There are a total of 180 provinces and 1747 districts in Peru.

Lima Province is not part of any political region.

[edit] Political pressure groups and leaders

Leftist guerrilla groups include Shining Path Abimael Guzmán (imprisoned), Gabriel Macario (top leader at-large); Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement or MRTA Victor Polay (imprisoned), Hugo Avellaneda Valdez (top leader at-large). Both Shining Path & MRTA are considered terrorist organizations.

[edit] International organization participation

Peru or Peruvian organizations participate in the following international organizations:

[edit] References

  1. ^ Constitución Política del Perú, Article N° 112.

[edit] External links

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