First modification:
The president of Peru, Dina Boluarte, would have considered the request of the population to advance general elections for this 2023. However, the power struggle in Congress overshadows this possibility, because the legislature remains firm in its idea of calling elections only in 2024.
The political and social crisis in Peru worsens with the passing of the days. The request for the resignation of President Dina Boluarte and the call for new elections for this 2023 are demands that the population does not intend to negotiate. Some local newspapers report that Boluarte would agree with the early elections, but the Peruvian Congress would not be in favor.
“Very personal interests”
According to Fernando Tuesta, a political scientist at the Catholic University of Lima and former head of the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE), the members of Congress are only defending particular interests.
“It is a matter of political will. Congress never wanted to cut his term of office. The time he voted for the early elections to April 2024, which was on December 20 of last year, he did so under pressure. But, as I repeat, they are very personal interests, not even from benches. They all want to stay. In Peru, there is also no re-election, so they know that, once the mandate is cut, they have to go to their respective homes ”, he explains.
The rumors of a possible clash of powers between Boluarte and his prime minister due to the advancement of the elections begin to gain strength, after the official met with the president of Congress to share the new request of the president, without apparently asking him much emphasis.
“You have to remember that Dina Boluarte is not a person who had a political experience. On the other hand, Alberto Otálora has greater security, he has also been a minister, he has more experience in the political sphere, and it seems that he has real power, ”says the political scientist.
“It is necessary that elections be held this year”
Tuesta estimates that the advancement of elections for this year is feasible, if Congress has real political will. However, if this is not achieved, Boluarte’s resignation would lead to a direct call for elections, without negotiations.
“In the political sense, it is necessary that elections be held this year. The people do not give more, the country does not give more. That is the possible political and constitutional solution. If Boluarte resigns, he is succeeded by the president of Congress, and the Constitution states that he assumes the Government and immediately calls for elections. Let’s see if he wants to, but that would indeed be a way out, ”he concludes.
The Constitution Commission approved advancing the next legislature from March 1 to February 15, but this decision must be debated in plenary in the next seven business days.