During a lengthy plenary session, Peru’s Congress rejected an attempt to fast-track general elections to October, after more than eight hours of deliberation on a constitutional reform proposal led by Hernando Guerra García, head of the Constitutional Commission from the Fujimori bloc. The measure received 45 votes in favor, 65 against, and 2 abstentions. Although the motion failed, the presiding officer, José Williams, announced that the request for reconsideration would be reviewed the following Monday, with another vote anticipated on the proposal. To pass, a constitutional reform would have required the affirmative votes of 87 deputies across two consecutive legislatures. This reflects the heightened tension and the persistent demands for early elections in the country. At stake is a reform with potential implications for Peru’s political calendar and governance during a period of significant social unrest, as discussed by lawmakers and observers. (Cited by Peru Congress)”
A subsequent decision by the General Assembly supported reconsidering the progress date for general elections, a proposal initially tabled by Hernando Guerra García. García, who leads the Constitutional Commission from the Fujimori faction, had suggested advancing the electoral date from the originally planned April 2024 to an earlier timeframe. The chamber approved the motion with 78 votes in favor, 34 against, and 7 abstentions after more than four hours of debate featuring diverse viewpoints and arguments from the political spectrum. (Cited by Peruvian Parliament Communications)”
Guerra García had unexpectedly urged on Thursday to reopen the vote, which had previously received approval on December 20, so that the country could hold early elections as soon as April 2024. Once his request won approval, President of Congress José Williams immediately opened a discussion on a final new date, with Guerra García proposing that elections be held in October. (Cited by National Legislative Records)”
Under the reform plan presented by the Constitutional Commission, the process would include the election of a new president and two vice presidents, alongside a full slate of 130 deputies and 5 substitutes, culminating in a presidential runoff in early December. The proposal underscores the urgency participants feel to address a period of political volatility and to establish a clear constitutional framework for governance. (Cited by Parliamentary Briefings)”
As one lawmaker described the moment, the issue is essential for the country. The vote stands as a key decision point that could shape Peru’s political trajectory and public confidence in institutions during a period of sustained protests and public pressure for change. The constitutional nature of the reform means that broad consensus across two consecutive legislatures is required before any date can be finalized, a safeguard designed to ensure stability and legitimacy in the electoral process. (Cited by Legislative Observers)”
Further, the next steps would involve re-voting on the proposed date in the subsequent legislature, with the Constitutional Commission proposing that the new session begin on February 15. This timeline emphasizes the procedural safeguards embedded in Peru’s constitutional order and the careful balance politicians seek between rapid accountability and orderly governance. (Cited by Governance Analysts)”
details of the discussion
At the outset of Friday’s debate, the plenary rejected a bid, put forward by the ultra-conservative Renovación Popular and the radical left Bloc Magisterial, to declare the reconsideration of the election date inadmissible. After that motion failed, Guerra García invited lawmakers to consider the gravity of the situation and to weigh the political implications of any delay or acceleration in the electoral timetable. The rhetoric framed the issue as a crisis moment that demands a considered response rather than a hasty reform, reflecting the deep divisions within the body and the high stakes involved. (Cited by Congressional Debates)”
Left-wing legislators, such as Flavio Cruz, signaled support for a rapid path to elections as a constitutional remedy, urging respect for constitutional timelines while acknowledging the country’s urgent needs. President Dina Boluarte called on Congress to approve the change so that elections could proceed in 2023 as a precautionary step to alleviate the ongoing political crisis. The protests, which have persisted for months, have amplified calls for accountability and governance reform, including the possibility of convening a constituent assembly. (Cited by Human Rights Monitors)”
According to data from the Ombudsman Institution, the protests, which began in December, have resulted in casualties and risk to public safety. Several fatalities have been reported, including a police officer who died in a clash with security forces; additional deaths have occurred amid confrontations and barricades across different regions. International organizations, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and UNICEF, have noted humanitarian impacts, including road closures that affected medical access and vulnerable populations. The situation underscores the broader social and political pressures surrounding the electoral process and the resilience of Peru’s civic institutions. (Cited by Humanitarian Agencies)”