Peru Tries Democracy
ALEXANDER, ROBERT J.
With the end of Odria's dictatorship, the country seems to be entering a new period of social change Peru Tries Democracy By Robert J. Alexander In one of those swift about-faces which make Latin...
...These reactionary elements have been united in fear and hatred of the APRA, a moderate leftist party which seeks fundamental but necessary changes in the country's economic and social structure...
...Prado was an outstanding representative of the economic royalists who for years had maintained power in alliance with the military...
...They want a period of quiet and freedom in which to develop grassroots party organizations throughout the country and bring the Indian masses into participation in the party and civil life...
...Before the deal with the apristas, few observers had given him even an outside chance...
...2) It doubted that Odria would permit him to take office if elected, and the apristas' chief concern was restoration of a democratic atmosphere and legalization of their party...
...In reality, they have sought to work out a democratic social program, including opposition to Peru's semi-feudal agricultural system, industrialization, and incorporation of the country's Indian majority into social, economic and political life...
...He reportedly turned down the post of chief Peruvian delegate to the UN General Assembly in order to continue his studies and writing in Europe...
...In his eleven years out of the Government, however, Prado had shown signs of having learned something about democracy and had decided that the country needed a period of democratic growth...
...In the principal cities, however, it went overwhelmingly in favor of Prado, which undoubtedly explains his election...
...Belaunde undoubtedly felt that he deserved aprista support...
...Upon assuming office, the new President hastened to carry out bis pledges to the aprista leaders...
...The apristas, meanwhile, had been actively rebuilding their organization...
...During the campaign, a deep cleavage developed between Belaunde and the apristas, to whom he had previously been friendly...
...Hence, the group supporting Prado was anxious to return to civilian government, even if it meant making a deal with the hated apristas...
...Not only is there the constant threat of a new military dictatorship—which helps explain the party's cautious attitude toward Prado, who has considerable influence in Army ranks—but a new and potentially dangerous political movement has emerged from the election...
...They had found themselves at the Army's mercy, and some of their chief leaders—such as Pedro Beltran, a large landowner and publisher of one of the biggest newspapers in Lima—had been jailed when they fell out with the military clique...
...Once the Odria regime had decided to go through with more or less honest elections, it became obvious that they would be the deciding factor...
...His party is more apt to become a handy propaganda and organizational vehicle for the Communists, whose legal status is still extremely vague...
...Until a few months before his retirement, it seemed probable that he would have himself "re-elected" in the usual manner of Latin American dictators...
...They have also been bitter enemies of fascism and Communism in any form, both at home and abroad...
...The APRA, however, strongly repudiated him for two reasons: (1) It felt he was trying to win over traditionally pro-aprista elements to his own movement...
...In fact, during his administration he had done his utmost to block its growth...
...Belaude appears unconcerned by this fact, feeling that he can handle Communists...
...With the approach of the recent election, the apristas began negotiating for restoration of their legality...
...The apristas thereupon turned to candidate Manuel Prado...
...There are unquestionably differences of opinion within the APRA ranks, but these will be thoroughly aired at the coming party congress, and the cautious policies of Priale and other party leaders will probably be approved...
...As a result—and because many rank-and-file apristas were hesitant about backing Prado, whom they remembered as an old enemy—the aprista vote was split...
...The apristas have been systematically denounced as "fascists," "Communists" or both, and have been accused of seeking to establish a dictatorship and using strong-arm methods...
...Although the retiring dictator promised publicly to allow the APRA to function legally, however, he refused to implement this before the election...
...They are also extending their organization into the remotest parts of the interior, resuming the work they undertook in 1945-48 on behalf of Indian communities which have been robbed of their land by neighboring landlords...
...In many outlying regions, aprista followers still thought their party-was supporting Lavalle...
...A long-standing measure requiring Peruvians abroad who wished to return to obtain visas like any foreigner was also repealed by executive decree...
...The party leaders realize that he is a highly controversial figure, and they are anxious to avoid the situation which prevailed from 1945 to 1948...
...At present, an unusually democratic and hopeful atmosphere exists in Peru...
...And, even though the Prado-aprista alliance is still in the honeymoon stage and may not last, this writer feels that the election of Prado may well mark the beginning of a relatively long period of political democracy and social progress...
...There seem to be two basic reasons why Odria instead had to step down: A split had developed in the Army, and the big economic interests backing the regime had turned against it...
...They have supported a moderate program of socialization, not on a doctrinaire basis but where it would advance Peruvian economic development and national sovereignty...
...If it does become a major threat to the APRA, it will be less as a genuinely popular force than as a stalking horse for those conservative groups which have always sought to use the Communists as a counterweight to the apristas...
...With the end of Odria's dictatorship, the country seems to be entering a new period of social change Peru Tries Democracy By Robert J. Alexander In one of those swift about-faces which make Latin American poli tics so disconcerting, Peru has beer transformed in recent months from a dictatorship into a country which is at least formally a democracy...
...Since the apristas from their inception have been the majority party, they could be kept from power only by dictatorship...
...This writer is inclined to doubt it...
...This group had become disillusioned with the Army alliance during Odria's rule...
...A tireless campaigner, he came in second against tremendous odds...
...In other areas, the third candidate, Fernando Belaunde Terry, had spread the word that the aprista leadership was following him...
...They have recaptured a commanding position among university students and have achieved firm control of the newly-reorganized Confederation of Workers of Peru...
...One of President Prado's first acts was to name a commission, representing all parties, to study the problem of agrarian reform...
...Meanwhile, the apristas are busy reorganizing the party ranks...
...At that time, another President who owed his election to APRA support, Jose Busta-mante, was placed in an almost impossible position by the fact that there were in effect two chief executives in the country...
...Haya will probably return to Peru briefly for the APRA party congress early next year and then go back to Europe or to the United States...
...However, the revitalized party organization did not have time to spread the word throughout the country that it was backing Prado...
...The latter, an ex-President, had never been a particular friend of the APRA...
...The apristas negotiated first with Odria, who was backing an engineer, Hernan Lavalle, for the Presidency...
...Since the rise of the APRA in 1930, Peru has usually been governed by dictatorships based on an alliance between the Army and powerful land-holding-commercial interests...
...They are determined to restrain the more reckless elements which led to the party's downfall in 1948...
...Odria had seized power in an Army coup d'etat in October 1948 and had himself "elected" without opposition two years later...
...For their part, the apristas are extremely anxious to establish democratic government in Peru on a solid basis...
...Although the commission was headed by Pedro Beltran, himself a large landowner, and has come forth with some rather innocuous proposals, the fact that such a body was created at all is highly significant...
...General Manuel Odria, the dictator, has turned over his power to a candidate elected with the backing of Peru's majority party, the APRA...
...A bill was rushed through Parliament legalizing the party...
...Peru seems to be entering an era of good feeling, but wisdom, caution and tact will be needed if it is to become the prelude to a period of truly democratic social change...
...The apristas' main difficulties will come from without rather than within...
...About two weeks before Election Day, Prado reached an agreement with the apristas, promising that his first act as President would be to urge Parliament to restore the APRA's legality...
...Belaunde undoubtedly has significant support in the universities and among youth generally, but it is unlikely that he can develop a program to challenge the "mystique," organizational ability and program of the APRA...
...The most spectacular figure in the campaign was Fernando Belaunde Terry, Dean of the Architecture School of San Marcos University in Lima and an independent Presidential candidate...
...The APRA is not enthusiastic about having its founder and principal leader, Victor Raul Haya de la Torre, return to Peru permanently from exile abroad...
...Ramiro Priale, an old party stalwart, returned to Peru illegally and undertook the job...
...Oppressive laws "for the security of the state," which had been enacted by the Odria dictatorship, were repealed...
...All this is pointed toward the 1962 election...
...He was soon able to get a functioning organization established once more...
...Though they have no intention of becoming tools of the Prado Administration, their criticism is likely to be moderate...
...His organizational support comes largely from the Communist elements which have long been strong in southern Peru...
...There are indications that the powerful economic forces associated with Prado have begun to realize that social change is inevitable and it is better for it to come slowly and peacefully than violently as in neighboring Bolivia...
...Opinions differ as to whether Belaunde, who is organizing a so-called Popular Action party, will be able to offer serious opposition to the APRA...
...Bustamante was in the Presidential palace and Haya de la Torre at party headquarters...
...Belaunde aroused considerable enthusiasm among young people, particularly in the universities...
...If he stays out of the country, except for occasional visits, until the eve of the 1962 election campaign, he will probably have a better chance of becoming President than if he returns permanently in the near future...
...The apristas are therefore eager to maintain good relations with the President...
Vol. 39 • November 1956 • No. 51
