The High Level Mission of the Organization of American States (OAS) that visited Peru at the end of November has concluded that the Peruvian democratic institutionality «is at risk» due to the «political fragmentation» faced by the country.
The findings of the OAS High Level Group (HLG), which met up to 29 times with different branches of government and private and civil society representatives, reveal that Peru faces a high level of instability that makes it difficult to govern and address the country’s most urgent issues.
This instability is based, according to the OAS, on the high fragmentation of political forces, the constant changes in the formation of cabinets, the questioning in the appointment of officials, or even the repeated requests of the opposition to shorten the mandate of the Executive and to bring forward the elections.
Likewise, the motions of censure presented against President Pedro Castillo (three to date), the multiple judicial investigations initiated against the head of state, and the absence of dialogue between the main public actors also aggravate the political crisis.
«The polarization is reflected in an internal struggle between the powers of the State (…) which may affect the normal institutional functioning and generate greater conflict and division in Peruvian society,» reads the statement released by the GAN.
«In the words of an interviewed actor (whose identity has been withheld), there is currently ‘a civil war between public institutions’,» the missive continues.
EXCESSIVE USE OF POLITICAL CONTROL In its analysis of the political situation in the country, the OAS has shown its concern for an excessive use of political control tools, assuring that there are cross accusations in which each party accuses the other of violating jurisdiction by carrying out actions outside its competence.
Among these political control measures, the Inter-American organization has highlighted the «indiscriminate» use of motions of censure, the congressional prohibition of the president to travel abroad, as well as the recurrent constitutional complaints.
As one of the actors explained to GAN, Peru is facing a process of «judicialization of politics and politicization of Justice», thus distorting the role and balance of the powers of the State.
In this sense, the OAS has pointed out that this «permanent confrontation» generates a loss of credibility on the part of the population, which sees the different powers as actors that do not look after its interests.
RACISM AND REJECTION OF DIALOGUE Among other issues, the High Level Group has stressed, as some interlocutors have told it, that the election of Pedro Castillo as president of Peru has shown that there are sectors that promote racism.
According to various actors with whom the OAS met, some political powers in the country do not accept that a person outside traditional political circles occupies the traditional chair, which has resulted in insults and insults to the image of the head of state.
«Some interviewees argue that discrimination also reaches the 55 native peoples and 48 languages that compromise the cultural heritage of the country, and which deserve respect and consideration,» reads the OAS communiqué.
However, although the actors interviewed have generally shown their predisposition to dialogue as «an essential part of the democratic exercise», they do not maintain it with other counterparts they consider questionable.
«In practice, this has been translating into difficulties, not only in the formal relationship between branches of government, but even in the use of traditional informal institutions in Peru (…) such as the Council of State or the use of the National Agreement, which have not been convened,» the HLG has detailed.
THE ‘RECIPES’ OF THE OAS Beyond the differences, the OAS has found a generalized conviction of the need to preserve democracy and respect the Constitution and the laws, for which it has listed a series of recommendations to the different political actors to channel the situation.
Among them is the convening of a formal dialogue between the Presidency, legislators, high courts, representatives of political parties and members of civil society, all of them free of conditions.
In this sense, he has urged the Executive to take the first step and promote democratic dialogue to agree on «the rules of the game» to reach a consensus on a government agenda.
Likewise, the OAS has recommended to initiate a «political truce» while the dialogue is convened and «a minimum consensus is reached to ensure governability».
Thirdly, it has indicated that «constitutional justice» must be «respected». In this sense, he pointed out that the Constitutional Court (TC) «is the guardian of the Constitution and must enforce what the Constitution provides».
He also urged political actors to ensure «full respect for Human Rights» and to address the issue of tolerance and respect for «all citizens», all in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Finally, the High Level Group called for freedom of expression to be exercised «in a constructive, responsible, impartial and respectful manner towards all actors».
