Even Peruvians are calling it an election between the lesser of two evils.
In today’s second round of their presidential elections, Peruvians have to choose between Keiko Fujimori, the neophyte daughter of former president Alberto, who is serving a 25-year prison sentence for corruption and human rights abuses, and Ollanta Humala, a man who (by his own admission in interviews published in a new book) has plotted no fewer than four coup attempts -- two more than Hugo Chávez, who has been a major donor not only to Humala’s two campaigns but to Humala’s household, through a Venezuelan newspaper called The Daily Journal, which sent monthly payments to Humala’s wife.
As I wrote in The Weekly Standard on April 8th, this is nothing short of a tragedy in a country that was a prosperous regional miracle under conservative president Alan García. García’s APRA party does not even have a candidate running, partly through their own incompetence. 7% annual GDP growth during a global economic crisis is clearly not enough to counteract populism.
So here Peruvians are: facing a four-time putschist who is disavowing his proximity to Chávez and instead adopting the model (as well as campaign advisors) of Brazil, the hemisphere’s new BFF, as I explained in my FPRI talk on May 6th or a woman who promises not to use the presidency to pardon and release her convict father.
As we say in New York: oy vey.
Never mind.
Chávez, who is loath to miss any opportunity for self-aggrandizement, has oh-so-helpfully chimed in today with his promise to work with whomever wins the Peruvian elections.
As if he had a choice.
I mean, it is really just so charming and gracious of him to respect a sovereign nation’s autonomous democratic choice.
But then democratic liberties have always been a bit of a challenge for the Venezuelan president, who not only was behind two coup attempts in 1992, but has also abolished any power that is not directly his.
Lest anyone talk about something than him for one minute, Chávez also reminded people that he had a role to play in Peru’s elections -- yes, a negative one: his support was cited as a reason not to vote for Humala, frightening Peruvians that Peru might turn into Venezuela.
But Humala’s loud protestations of having seen the light of democracy have evidently been successful in allaying many people’s fears: at this moment the Humala-Fujimori election is too close to call.
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al loomis
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Comments
Humala was involved in coup attempts against the corrupt Fujimori. He should be commended.
As far as GDP growth, that can be deceiving. In the U.S. corporations are extremely profitable while unemployment is high and the gap between rich and poor widens. Sounds like Peru and the U.S.have a lot in common, except the Peruvians have decided to elect someone who may actually bring change that benefits the majority of the people rather than the Oligarchs.
As far as his relationship with Chavez, we can only hope they will work together. Viva la Bolivarian Revolution!
How do you know I have no first hand knowledge? For all you know, I was in the CIA and part of the coup attempt against Chavez, but have since seen the light.
As far as Humala, his victory is not that surprising. It would have been surprising if Fujimori would have won given her father was a murdering, kidnapping, corrupt neoliberal who's policies widened the gap between rich and poor. The fact is, those outside of Lima have seen little benefit from the so called economic miracle of Peru based mainly on the high price of its resources.