Early parliamentary elections are scheduled to hold in Peru on the 26th of January 2020.
Why Early Elections?
Elections were triggered after President Martin Vizcarra dissolved the Peruvian Congress on the 30th of September 2019, based on claims that the democracy of Peru was at risk. Congress responded by suspending Vizcarra’s presidency and appointing Vice President Mercedes Araos as the interim president. She resigned the following day while President Vizcarra issued a decree for snap elections to hold late in January.
How Did Peru Get Here?
In Peru’s semi-presidential constitution, the prime minister needs the confidence of the legislature to stay in power. However, if prime ministers lose a confidence vote twice during a presidential term, the president may choose to dissolve congress at their discretion.
The first vote of no-confidence occurred in September 2017. While the second vote occurred in September 2019 after congress named a new member to the constitutional court of Peru, someone allegedly involved in corrupt practices. President Vizcarra tagged this the second act of no-confidence in his government, granting him the authority to dissolve congress.
How Peruvian Congressional Elections Work
Seats in Congress are assigned to each region in proportion to the region’s population, using party-list proportional representation. Candidates do not need to be members of the political party they run for but may run for such parties as guests.
Citizens vote for their preferred party directly and can write two specific candidates’ numbers on the ballot as their personal preference. Legislative and presidential elections happen concurrently and usually take place in April but things have taken a different turn this time. Ultimately, Congressmen serve a five-year term and can be re-elected indefinitely even though this is very rare.
President Vizcarra’s popularity has grown since the dissolution of congress from 48% to 79%. He also has the support of the Inter-American Organization who backed his call for a legislative election as well as the allegiance of the Peruvian military, whose heads say they still recognise him as Head of the Armed Forces.
