Politics of Peru

Peru
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Peru
Constitution

The 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.

Democratic reform

The Republic of Peru is in a state of ongoing democratization. Led by President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, the new government is expected 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.

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.

Executive branch

Government Palace of Peru.
Main office holders
Office Name Party Since
President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski Peruvians for Change 28 July 2016
Prime Minister Fernano Zavala Peruvians for Change 28 July 2016

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.

Legislative branch

Congress of the Republic of Peru.

The legislative branch consists of a unicameral Congress (Congreso) of 130 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

For other political parties, see List of political parties in Peru. An overview on elections and election results is included in Elections in Peru.
 Summary of the 10 April and 5 June 2011 Peruvian presidential election result
Candidates – Parties 1st round 2nd round
Votes % Votes %
Ollanta Humala – Peru Wins (Gana Perú) 4,643,064 31.699 7,937,704 51.449
Keiko Fujimori – Force 2011 (Fuerza 2011) 3,449,595 23.551 7,490,647 48.551
Pedro Pablo Kuczynski – Alliance for the Great Change (Alianza por el Gran Cambio) 2,711,450 18.512  
Alejandro Toledo – Possible Peru (Perú Posible) 2,289,561 15.631
Luis Castañeda – National Solidarity (Solidaridad Nacional) 1,440,143 9.832
José Ñique de la Puente – Fonavist Party (Partido Fonavista del Perú) 37,011 0.253
Ricardo Noriega – National Awakening Party (Partido Despertar Nacional) 21,574 0.147
Rafael Belaúnde Aubry – Forward Party (Partido Político Adelante) 17,301 0.118
Juliana Reymer – National Force Party (Partido Fuerza Nacional) 16,831 0.115
Humberto Pinazo – Justice, Technology, Ecology (Justicia, Tecnología, Ecología) 11,275 0.077
Total valid (turnout %) 14,074,682 100.000 15,428,351 100.000
Blank votes 1,406,998 8.855 116,335 0.706
Invalid votes 416,026 2.620 921,711 5.598
Source: National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE), National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE)
 Summary of the 10 April 2011 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
Peru Wins (Gana Perú)

dominated by Peruvian Nationalist Party (Partido Nacionalista Peruano)

including Socialist Party (Partido Socialista) and others
 3,245,003 25.274 47 2,740,106 27.022 2
Force 2011 (Fuerza 2011)
including National Renewal (Renovación Nacional)
2,948,781 22.967 37 2,353,660 23.211 1
Electoral Alliance Possible Peru (Alianza Electoral Perú Posible)
1,904,180 14.831 21 1,498,783 14.780 1
Alliance for the Great Change (Alianza por el Gran Cambio)
1,851,080 14.417 12 1,413,783 13.942 1
National Solidarity Alliance (Alianza Solidaridad Nacional)
1,311,766 10.217 9 954,618 9.414 0
American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (Partido Aprista Peruano) 825,030 6.426 4 638,675 6.298 0
Radical Change (Cambio Radical) 347,475 2.706 0 195,441 1.927 0
Fonavist Party (Fonavistas des Perú) 170,052 1.324 0 158,877 1.567 0
Decentralist Party Social Force (Partido Decentralista Fuerza Social) 108,200 0.843 0 65,265 0.644 0
Forward Party (Partido Político Adelante) 42,276 0.329 0 36,193 0.357 0
National Force Party (Partido Fuerza Nacional) 37,633 0.293 0 35,014 0.345 0
National Awakening Party (Partido Despertar Nacional) 30,190 0.235 0 — — —
Justice, Technology, Ecology (Justicia, Tecnologia, Ecologia) 17,478 0.136 0 49,869 0.492 0
Valid votes 12,839,144 100.000 130 10,140,284 100.000 5
Blank votes 4,352,212 26.056
Invalid votes 2,210,919 13.236
Source: National Office of Electoral Processes - on Congressional Election

- on Andean Parliament Election

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Justice of Peru.

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.

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.

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.

Non-governmental organizations

In the early 1970s and 1980s many grass-roots organizations emerged in Peru. They were concerned with problems of local people and poverty reduction. After 2000 they played an important role in the decentralisation process. Their hope was that power would be divided clearly between national and local governments and the latter would be able to address social justice and the concerns of local people better than the national government could. Some NGO-members even became part of local governments. There is debate extent to which this engagement in politics contributes to the attainment of their original goals.[2]

International organization participation

Peru or Peruvian organizations participate in the following international organizations:

See also

References

  1. ↑ Constitución Política del Perú, Article N° 112.
  2. ↑ Monika Huber, Wolfgang Kaiser (February 2013). "Mixed Feelings". dandc.eu.
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