PERUVIAN POLITICS A Historic Shift to the Left
Walker, Charles
LIMA, Peru-Although the defeat of the center Right government party. Popular Action, was expected in the April 14 Peruvian presidential elec- tions, few predicted the extent of the opposition...
...Corruption scandals and human rights abuses in the battle against the Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path) guerrilla movement contributed to the catastrophic defeat...
...The outcome, a reflection of disenchantment with the conservative government and increased political organization among middle and lower-class groups, signifies an historic change in Peruvian politics-neither APRA nor the Left has ever held the presidency...
...Support in middle-class and some lower-class neighborhoods declined in comparison with the 1983 municipal elections, yet the 23 won by the Left can hardly be interpreted as defeat...
...Garcia's youth was marketed to appeal to the "new Peru"REPORT ON THE AMERICAS "governing party's only handicap...
...APRA itself has been giving mixed signals on its strategy toward the guerrillas...
...Absenteeism was lower than in previous years and voting was disrupted in only a few Andean districts...
...If Alan Garcia remains popular and the Left continues to represent a cohesive opposition, there will be little room for Sendero to expand...
...they are joining APRA...
...Popular Action candidate Javier Alva Orlandini had little on which to base his campaign...
...The opposition victory was an unambiguous rejection of the BelaOnde government and its handling of the economy, in particular...
...Garcia presented very vague plans and priorities and refused to debate the other candidates, in recognition of his huge lead in the polls...
...Sales of burglar alarms, locks and weapons are booming...
...Unemployment has also skyrocketed, with well over half of the population on the fringe of the job market...
...Strikes have increased throughout the country in 1985 as the minimum wage, earned by approximately half the working population, is now down to the equivalent of $40 a month...
...But if the economic situation continues to worsen and/or the military were to assume a political role, Sendero's enrollment efforts could succeed...
...Many conservatives admitted relief at Garcia's victory over Barrantes...
...The conservative parties will now play the role of the intransigent opposition while the possi- bility of the Left and APRA combining forces looks dim...
...As the residents become organized...
...Blackout Postpones Recount APRA's victory and a second place for the United Left is a setback for the other major force in Peruvian politics, Sendero Luminoso...
...Cor- ruption scandals and human rights abuses in the battle against the Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path) guer- rilla movement contributed to the catastrophic defeat...
...The movement's calls for a boycott and efforts to sabotage the vote were largely unsuccessful...
...In the five-year term of President Fernando Belatinde Terry, the Peruvian economy has declined tremendously, with workers taking the brunt of the crisis...
...The exchange rate on the dollar rose from 200 soles in 1980 to over 9,000 before the election...
...One sector calls for closer ties to the Left and a return to the radical program of the 1920s, while another emphasizes a pro-business course...
...Barrantes has been unable to come up with rapid solutions to Lima's myriad problems: municipal workers' salary demands...
...Sendero did grab headlines after the election by bombing several electrical lines, blacking out Lima and postponing the recount...
...Despite a very expensive campaign, the conser- vative message of LuIs Bedoya failed to gain adherents outside Lima's middle and upper-class neighborhoods, drawing only 12% of the vote...
...APRA won control of both houses of parliament and does not need to enter into any alliances...
...which emphasized its loyalty to the international banking sys- tem, has been in arrears for the last year on payment of the interest on Peru's $13.6 billion debt...
...Garcia pushed his role as the political heir to Haya de Ia Torre...
...While Sendero clearly represents a stronger organization than the government purports, the movement appears to be stagnating...
...if Alan Garcia remains popular and the Left continues to represent a cohesive opposition, there will be little room for Sendero to expand...
...His government attempted monetarist stabilization policies, dealing a heavy blow to domestic industry with a sweeping import liberalization drive...
...The new APRA government faces a formidable task...
...Meanwhile, the working population has been promised a respite from inflation and unemployment...
...It began as a populist, anti-oligarchic party with a largely middle-class constituency...
...And in late April, Peru's top election official...
...Blackout Postpones Recount APRA's victory and a second place for the United Left is a setback for the other major force in Peruvian politics...
...Thus, Alan Garcia's campaign focused on extending support beyond the party...
...Lima is one of Latin America's most chaotic and rapidly growing cities, and reform efforts have been hampered by a minuscule budget and the constant opposition of the Belalinde government and much of the press...
...One sector calls for closer ties to the Left and a return to the radical program of the 1920s, while another emphasizes a pro-business course...
...anti-communism is stronger in Peru than antiAprism...
...As a result of an almost religious devotion to the party and its leader, Victor Raul Haya de Torre, who died in 1979, APRA had been unable to attract votes among independents and other non-Apristas...
...Along with mining towns and the impoverished southern Andean provinces, the shantytowns of Lima have provided the greatest political support for the United Left coalition...
...was seriously wounded in an ambush...
...As a result of an almost religious devotion to the party and its leader, Victor Raul Haya de Torre, who died in 1979, APRA had been unable to attract votes among independents and other non-Apris:as...
...The widely read daily La Repablu'a referred to the election as Popular Action's "fu - neral...
...The government cites a long list of excuses: the inherited foreign debt, sluggishness of the international economy, a decrease in the prices of Peruvian exports, natural disasters (floods) and Sendero Luminoso...
...Appealing to the New Peru The APRA leadership recognized that the April elections presented a long-sought opportunity to overcome historical frustrations...
...Many neighborhood organizations have formed communal kitchens, attempting to provide affordable meals...
...The mayor did fulfill his campaign promise to provide free milk to school children, a program which grew out of the Left's collaboration with local organizations in the poorer sections of the city...
...His opponent in the obligatory second round will be Alfonso Barrantes Lingdn, leader of the United Left coalition, who received 23% of the vote...
...Alan Garcia Perez, the 35-year-old candidate of the center-Left APRA party...
...The exchange rate on the dollar rose from 200 soles in 1980 to over 9,000 before the election...
...Vendors sell an assortment of items on virtually every corner while streettheater groups, fire eaters and singers perform for spare change...
...Lima is one of Latin America's most chaotic and rapidly growing cities, and reform efforts have been hampered by a minuscule budget and the constant opposition of the Belaunde government and much of the press...
...the extremely young electorate...
...In the 1930s and 1940s, APRA leaders were persecuted by the military and ruling parties, but eventually forged alliances with those same groups...
...His government attempted monetarist stabilization policies, dealing a heavy blow to domestic industry with a sweeping import liberalization drive...
...Popular Action, was expected in the April 14 Peruvian presidential elec- tions, few predicted the extent of the opposition victory...
...Bedoya's scare tactics were apparently ineffectual...
...The outcome, a reflection of disenchantment with the conservative government and increased political organization among middle and lowAPRA nor the Left has ever held the presidency...
...The government's unpopularity was evident throughout the campaign...
...Residents of the pueblos jOvenes, or shantytowns...
...Some party leaders have actively criticized the armed forces' human rights abuses in the "emergency zone" while others have called for a rapid "military" solution...
...The new government's first year is.crucial for the fate of Sendero Luminoso...
...Alan Garcfa said the day after the polling, but a vote of hope...
...Support in the coastal cities is not growing and the military has largely stifled advances in the central Andes...
...Unemployment has also skyrocketed, with well over half of the population on the fringe of the job market...
...In contrast to the 46% which Beladnde gained in 1980, the uncharismatic Alva Orlandini barely reached the 5% required for Popular Action to continue as an officially recognized political party...
...attracted 48% of the vote, just short of the absolute majority needed to avoid a runoff...
...The opposition victory was an unambiguous rejection of the Beladinde government and its handling of the economy, in particular...
...Barrantes has been unable to come up with rapid solutions to Lima's myriad problems: municipal workers' salary demands: accumulation of trash in the streets: generally insufficient city services...
...While Sendero clearly represents a stronger organization than the government purports, the movement appears to be stagnating...
...Thus, Alan Garcia's campaign focused on extending support beyond the party...
...The shantytowns are also growing rapidly, as extreme poverty in the countryside forces thousands of campesinos to migrate to the cities...
...Bedoya's scare tactics were apparently ineffectual...
...a decrease in the prices of Peruvian exports, natural disasters (floods) and Sendero Lurninoso...
...Independence day, LIma, 1984 MAY/JUNE 1955 5 the extremely young electorate...
...His opponent in the obligatory second round will be Alfonso Barrantes Lingan, leader of the United Left coalition, who received 23% of the vote...
...The outgoing administration...
...Although Alan Garcia is generally associated with the more conservative tendency, he succeeded during the campaign in uniting the different factions...
...Support in the coastal cities is not growing and the military has largely stifled advances in the central Andes...
...mili- tant approach...
...His ambiguous social democratic tone reflected the different tendencies within the party...
...The government's unpopularity was evident throughout the campaign...
...Absenteeism was lower than in previous years and voting was disrupted in only a few Andean districts...
...But critics place the blame on Belafinde...
...His ambiguous social democratic tone reflected the different tendencies within the party...
...Crime has also increased substantially, with iron gates now surrounding most office buildings...
...Transnational investors, restrained during the reformist military phase of the early 1970s, were once again given carte blanche in major export sectors such as oil and mining...
...The party's slogan...
...even adopting many of the politicians mannerisms...
...the Left and independent organizations...
...In his last televised speech, the candidate warned that if APRA or the United Left were to win, "we would lose the freedom to move about as we wish, to travel within Peru or abroad, and we would lose the right to choose our children's-education freely...
...Yet to appease APRA members, Garcia pushed his role as the political heir to Haya de la Torre, even adopting many of the politician's mannerisms...
...Sendero did grab headlines after the election by bombing several electrical lines, blacking out Lima and postponing the recount...
...Sendero Luminoso...
...It began as a populist, anti-oligarchic party with a large- ly middle-class constituency...
...APRA itself has been giving mixed signals on its strategy toward the guerrillas...
...Garcia presented very vague plans and priorities and refused to debate the other candidates, in recognition of his huge lead in the polls...
...MAY/JUNE 1985 The streets of Lima are a testimony to Peruvians' creative survival tactics...
...Popular wisdom held that in Peru there were only two parties, the Apristas and the anti-Apristas...
...But critics place the blame on BelaUnde...
...around Lima have demonstrated a more organized...
...Real wages have fallen dramatically as the annual inflation rate has surpassed 100% in the last three years...
...The two most common terms used to describe the current economic situation are "crisis" and "disaster...
...The coalition is made up of diverse leftist parties ranging from a recently incorporated movement of progressive businessmen to the far l.ctt...
...generally insufficient city services...
...Despite these difficulties for the next president, the first and second place finish of the opposition parties signifies an historic advance of popular political move- ments over Peru's old-style "creole liberalism...
...Domingo Garcia Rada...
...The economic crisis was not the Fish exports have been hurt by falling prices and competition I Appealing to the New Peru The APRA leadership recognized that the April elections presented a long-sought opportunity to overcome historical frustrations...
...In the l930s and 1940s, APRA leaders were persecuted by the military and ruling parties, but eventually forged al- liances with those same groups...
...Alan Garcia Perez, the 35-year-old candidate of the center-Left APRA party, attracted 48% of the vote, just short of the absolute majority needed to avoid a runoff...
...The coalition is made up of diverse leftist parties ranging from a recently incorporated movement of progressive businessmen to the far Left, whose calls for negotiations with Sendero Luminoso were considered treasonous by the conservative press...
...APRA won control of both houses of parliament and does not need to enter into any alliances...
...And in late April, Peru's top election official, Domingo Garcia Rada, was seriously wounded in an ambush...
...Small Budget Hampers Reform The United Left's campaign was hindered by divisions within the alliance and the difficulties that Alfonso Barrantes has had in his three years as mayor of Lima...
...Some party leaders have actively criticized the armed forces' human rights abuses in the "emergency zone" while others have called for a rapid "military" solution...
...Charles Walker writes for several Peruvian newspapers and magazines...
...The mayor did fulfill his campaign promise to provide free milk to school children, a program which grew out of the Left's collaboration with local organizations in the poorer sections of the city...
...whose calls for negotiations with Sendero Luininoso were considered treasonous by the conservative press...
...Although Alan Garcia is generally associated with the more conservative tendency, he succeeded during the campaign in uniting the different factions...
...Strikes have increased throughout the country in 1985 as the minimum wage, earned by approximately half the working population, is now down to the equivalent of $40 a month...
...In the five-year term of President Fernando Belaunde Terry, the Peruvian economy has declined tremendously, with workers taking the brunt of the crisis...
...The party has been Peru's largest and most organized since the l920s, yet has nev- er been able to win and hold on to the presidency...
...The pro-business Popular Christian Party (PPC), conscious of discontent with the government, broke its fouryear alliance with Popular Action months before the elections...
...In light of the increased size and or- ganization of these groups and the Left's efforts to overcome its own interal rifts, few doubt the political potential of the United Left...
...Barrantes has formally conceded in recognition of Garcia's clear triumph, but a runoff will be held just to fulfill constitutional requirements...
...was intended to soften APRA'S sectarian image, staking out ground between the conservative parties and the Left...
...Support in middle-class and some lower-class neighborhoods declined in comparison with the 1983 Independence day, Lima, 1984 municipal elections, yet the 23% won by the Left can hardly be interpreted as defeat...
...In his last televised speech, the candidate warned that if APRA or the United Left were to win, "we would lose the freedom to move about as we wish, to travel within Peru or abroad, and we would lose the right to choose our children's' education freely...
...Garcia's youth was marketed to appeal to the "new Peru" REPORT ON THE AMERICAS Peruvian Politics A Historic Shift to the Left er-class groups, signifies an historic change in Peruvian politics neither FIsh exports have been hurt by falling prIces and competition PERU: A TWO-PART REPORT Peruvian Politics A Historic Shift to the Left BY CHARLES WALKER LIMA, Peru-Although the defeat of the center-Right government party, Popular Action, was expected in the April 14 Peruvian presidential elections, few predicted the extent of the opposition victory...
...Our commitment is with all Peruvians...
...Barrantes has formally conceded in recognition of Garcia's clear triumph, but a runoff will be held just to fulfill constitutional requirements...
...The movement's calls for a boycott and efforts to sabotage the vote were largely unsuccessful...
...The widely read daily La Reptdblica referred to the election as Popular Action's "funeral...
...Popular wisdom held that in Peru there were only two parties, the Apristas and the anhi-Apristas...
...Massive marches to the government palace frequently pro- test the lack of basic services and the catastrophic economic situation...
...It was not a vote of protest...
...Despite a very expensive campaign, the conservative message of Luis Bedoya failed to gain adherents outside Lima's middle and upper-class neighborhoods, drawing only 12% of the vote...
...The pro-business Popular Christian Party (PPC), conscious of discontent with the government, broke its four- year alliance with Popular Action months before the elections...
...Popular Action candidate Javier Alva Orlandini had little on which to base his campaign...
...Small Budget Hampers Reform The United Left's campaign was hindered by divisions within the alliance and the difficulties that Alfonso Barrantes has had in his three years as mayor of Lima...
...Real wages have fallen dramatically as the annual inflation rate has surpassed 100% in the last three years...
...In contrast to the 467 which Beladnde gained in 1980, the uncharismatic Alva Orlandini barely reached the 5% required for Popular Action to continue as an officially recognized political party...
...The party has been Peru's largest and most organized since the 1920s, yet has never been able to win and hold on to the presidency...
...The economic crisis was not the governing party's only handicap...
...accumulation of trash in the streets...
...APRA also benetltted from the con- solidation of the Left...
...The four-year-old coalition attracted nearly twice as many votes as the PPC, a testimony to growing support from unions, neighborhood organizations and intellectuals...
...Transnational investors, restrained during the reformist military phase of the early I 970s, were once again given carte blanche in major export sectors such as oil and mining...
...The two most common terms used to describe the current economic situation are "crisis" and "disaster...
...But if the economic situation continues to worsen andior the military were to assume a political role, Sendero's enrollment efforts could succeed...
...The new government's first year is.crucial for the fate of Sendero Luminoso...
...The party's slogan, "Our commitment is with all Peruvians," was intended to soften APRA's sectarian image, staking out ground between the conservative parties and the Left...
...The government cites a long list of excuses: the inherited foreign debt, sluggishness of the international economy...
...Yet to appease APRA members...
...The four-year-old coalition attracted nearly twice as many votes as the PPC, a testimony to growing support from unions, neighborhood organizations and intellectuals...
Vol. 19 • May 1985 • No. 3
