The Journal of Foreign Affairs at Carolina

Fighting Political Corruption in

Peru
Scarlett Kennedy
Scarlett Kennedy is a senior at UNC-Chapel Hill majoring in Political Science and Peace, War, and Defense. In-
spired by her interest in Peru and its ongoing corruption scandals, she wrote this paper for her class on “Politics of
the Global South: Latin America.”

D espite Peru’s troubled histo-

ry of authoritarian regimes
and military juntas, today it is in
pects, Charles Funderburk assures
that “consequences of widespread
political corruption for societies
corruption are clearly reflected in
Peruvian public opinion—65% of
Peruvians have experienced height-
many ways a great example of Lat- include lower rates of econom- ened distrust in their government
in American success. Between the ic growth, slower development of due to corruption in the past year.6
years 2002 and 2012, it had an im- economic and political institutions, Political corruption in Peru can
pressive GDP growth of 6.5 percent widespread cynicism and alienation be traced back to the Fujimori ad-
each year, and poverty was reduced among the populace undermining ministration. The Fujimori era is
by half.1 Despite its economic suc- the legitimacy of the state, and in one of Peru’s most infamous po-
cess, its presidents have had remark- some cases political and social insta- litical time periods in which the
ably low approval ratings. This can bility.”2 Funderburk strengthens this president was blatantly corrupt. Al-
be explained by its persisting prob- point by emphasizing the harmful though Fujimori took action against
lem with political corruption, which effect corruption has on a country’s the Shining Path—Peru’s armed
has proven to be a formidable foe economy. Corruption can lead to guerillas who terrorized the coun-
to democracy, deeply steeped in low investment in the public sector try—his presidency was full of scan-
Peruvian government and politics. as well as a lack of economic compe- dals. Vladimiro Montesinos, Fuji-
Efforts to fight corruption have tition and productivity. Widespread mori’s advisor and head of the secret
yielded little success but have acted political corruption deters foreign police, used the opposition to give
as learning opportunities for what countries from investing in Peru his party a political advantage.7 He
works and what doesn’t for a suc- because it displays mismanagement bribed government officials, mis-
cessful strategy to be created. This and instability. On Transparency used governmental funds, censored
strategy could involve concentrat- International’s Corruption Index, the media, spied on political op-
ing energy and resources on battling compiled by measuring perceived position, and even oversaw acts of
corruption at the local level, espe- levels of corruption, Peru scores torture and illegal arrests. Fujimori
cially through partnering with Pe- 36/100.3 It is worth pointing out that was accused of supporting Montesi-
ruvian organizations. this number has declined since 2014 nos throughout these acts and even
For Peru’s democracy to thrive, it when Peru scored 38. Compared to destroying evidence. Later, Fujimori
will be essential to take meaningful the United State’s score of 69/100,4 used the army in order to suspend
action to address its problems with or the average score of 43/100,5 Pe- the constitution and dissolve Con-
corruption. In his book, Political ru’s score is notably low, indicating a gress to allow himself to run for a
Corruption in Comparative Per- high level of corruption throughout third term. However, Peru’s legisla-
spective: Sources, Status and Pros- the country. These struggles with ture declared him “morally unfit,”

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and Fujimori fled the country.8 His ingly never-ending onslaught of po- dissolve Congress was in fact ille-
administration ended in 2000. litical corruption in their country. gal, then their vote to remove him
More recently, in March of 2018, Although some Peruvians sup- was legitimate, and he was no lon-
current president Martin Vizcarra ported Vizcarra’s attempt to dissolve ger President.16 The situation was
was sworn in to take the place of Congress, seeing it as the only way further complicated when President
the previous president, Pedro Pab- to pass the anti-corruption policies Mercedes Aráoz resigned from of-
lo Kuczynski, due to a corruption that they continuously block, oth- fice due to her belief that the consti-
scandal.9 During Kuczynski’s presi- ers view it as a repeat of the past. tutional integrity of Peru had been
dency, he was accused of accepting Some feared that this move would broken. Peru’s head of Congress also
bribes from Brazilian construction end the same as Fujimori’s dissolu- refused to step into the position.
company Odebrecht SA in exchange tion of Congress and that Vizcarra Since Vizcarra maintained the sup-
for work contracts.10 Similarly, in would use it not to rid the country port of many regional governors,
2019, Alan García, two-term Pres- of corruption but instead to increase the police, the head of the armed
ident of Peru from 1985-1990 and his own power. Legally speaking, forces, and the 2,000 Peruvians who
2006-2011, was served with an ar- whether or not Vizcarra was allowed had taken to the streets of Lima, it
rest warrant for receiving bribes to dissolve Congress comes down to seemed that he had effectively re-
from Odebrecht during his second how the Peruvian Constitution is mained in power.
term.11 With Peruvian officials at interpreted.14 According to the Con- In order to come to a determi-
his home to arrest him, García com- stitution, the President can legally native resolution, it was expected
mitted suicide. In the same position dissolve Congress only if they refuse to go to the courts. This was prob-
and facing a possible impeachment a vote of confidence twice. Vizcarra lematic as well since now even the
trial, Kuczynski resigned, allowing had tried three times to obtain this legitimacy of the courts was in ques-
Vizcarra to assume the presidency.12 vote of confidence from Congress tion. Doubt in the integrity of the
Vizcarra appeared highly moti- in order to pass reform proposals, Peruvian courts is rooted not just
vated to fight corruption in Peru, and each time Congress granted in speculation but in evidence. One
but the fight proved unsuccessful. the vote of confidence but rejected recent example was reported by the
In October 2019, Vizcarra asked to the reforms. According to Cynthia Organized Crime and Corruption
change the system by which judges McClintock, a professor of political Project in July of 2018 when record-
of the Constitutional Tribunal are science at George Washington Uni- ings were leaked of several Peruvian
appointed in Peru.13 The Constitu- versity, “In spirit, the Congress had judges engaging in corrupt acts.17
tional Tribunal is the political body very definitely denied confidence to Most of these recordings consisted
responsible for mediating disagree- two cabinets; by the exact letter of of conversations where judges were
ments between Congress and the the law, probably it had not.” Con- negotiating softer sentencing for
president, making them especially gress retaliated by voting Vizcarra payment. There have also been re-
important in times of conflict be- out of office and replacing him with cordings of judges giving jobs in ex-
tween the President and Congress. vice president Mercedes Aráoz.15 change for bribes. When the courts
Although Congress allowed this These complicated technicali- themselves are steeped in corrup-
change, they appointed someone of ties resulted in confusion of power tion, it is hard for the people of Peru
their own choice instead of allowing in Peru between the powers of the to know who they can turn to. Who
Vizcarra to select a new appointee. President and the powers of Con- can they count on to uphold justice
In response, Vizcarra motioned to gress. If Vizcarra legally had the and equality if not the courts? The
dissolve Congress. This was an act right to dissolve Congress, then they answer to this question remains un-
largely supported by the people of never had the power to suspend his clear, but it does not bode well for
Peru, who were tired of the seem- presidency. However, if his move to the future of Peru’s elections.

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The Journal of Foreign Affairs at Carolina
Despite the influential support to be heard and genuinely fought for ments to ensure that the funds are
Vizcarra had behind him, he was by their leaders. put to proper use. Strict account-
impeached on November 9th of Political corruption is clearly a ability measures should be required
2020 by Congress for the second problem that has haunted Peru and on any international funding that
time, and he stepped down with stood as a roadblock to legitimate is provided to combat corruption
the parting words, “I declare that democracy throughout history. One to prevent misuse. In defense of
without agreeing with the decision, thing that makes political corruption international organizations, a case
today I will leave the presidential such a difficult issue to tackle is that study by the United Nations showed
palace and go to my home...history political leaders, especially in Latin that they are at least more likely to
and the Peruvian people will judge America, often appropriate the top- be reformed under criticism than
the decisions that each one of us ic to gain popularity for their own governmental organizations. It is
makes.”18 Congress’s impeachment benefit.22 With so many powerful possible that international organi-
of Vizcarra is unpopular among Pe- people exploiting the fight against zations could have a future of suc-
ruvians, of whom only 20% support corruption disingenuously, it makes cess in fighting corruption if they
the act. He was impeached for accu- it more difficult to take strategic ac- learn from mistakes and make re-
sations of accepting bribes for pub- tion. The pervasiveness of the issue forms that require a higher level of
lic works contracts while governor could also be explained by a phe- accountability for funding. In spite
of Moquega.19 Vizcarra’s supporters nomenon called a “collective action of this, it could be some time before
took to the streets in protest of what problem.”23 From the perspective of anyone can safely count on interna-
they saw as an unjust coup, and the collective action problem, cor- tional organizations to solve these
Congress has been accused of using ruption in Peru is so prevalent that problems effectively.
the impeachment to postpone elec- no individual is willing to step up Since the ubiquity of corruption is
tions.20 With the vice presidential and take action against it, since there one of the biggest obstacles to solv-
and second vice presidential seats is more to gain from engaging in the ing it, perhaps it makes sense to take
vacant, Manuel Merino, a Peruvian corruption than there is in investing the approach of chipping away at it
lawmaker and businessman, took the effort and resources required little by little. As stated earlier, Peru
Vizcarra’s place as interim president. to fight it. Joseph Pozsgai-Alvarez has political corruption on both the
However, NPR reported that many summarizes this best when he poses national and local levels, which is
Peruvians, infuriated by the entire the question, “[W]ho is to lead the one factor that makes corruption
situation, refused to recognize Me- change when the argument is based even more complicated to contend
rino’s authority as legitimate.21 The on the absence of willing actors?”24 with. An example of corruption in
chaos reached its climax with two After all, effective change requires a local Peruvian politics comes from
Peruvians being killed by police strong and determined leader. the underprivileged region of Án-
during a protest, ultimately causing Foreign assistance, such as aid cash, where a tax revision entitled
Merino to step down from his posi- from the International Monetary local governments to a higher por-
tion and once again leave the seat of Fund or the World Bank, is a pop- tion of the tax revenues that came
the presidency vacant. If the accu- ularly tried method of tackling in from the mining industry.26 The
sations against Vizcarra are correct, corruption. Unfortunately, this has region began to see huge profits in
the current state of politics in Peru often proven to be ineffective or the form of tax dollars.27 This should
seems to have become a dishearten- sometimes even damaging due to have translated to better healthcare
ing territorial battle between corrupt the lack of accountability and over- and education for local residents,
politicians and lawmakers. This is a sight.25 This money often ends up but the governors and mayors of
bleak way of looking at things for a only getting used to fuel corruption the region used the money for their
country full of people who deserve instead since there are few require- own benefit instead. By the end of

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this, every single governor that had only large international organiza- terested stakeholders for improving
served between the years 2006-2017 tions can provide. This strategy al- information access and government
was in prison on corruption charges, lows local organizations to continue oversight.32 The OECD and other
and out of the 20 mayors that also progressing in efforts against cor- international organizations should
served there, 17 were being investi- ruption without sacrificing the fi- employ a similar strategy to push
gated for corruption.28 Laura M. Lu- nancial advantage that international for the implementation of its recom-
ehrmann, a scholar of Comparative organizations have the potential to mendations for fighting corruption.
and International Studies at Wright lend later on. It has been shown that Peru fac-
State University, found through her The Organisation for Econom- es a profound struggle against cor-
research in South Africa and China ic Cooperation and Development ruption—this issue exists in all
that “citizens focusing on local cor- (OECD) recently released updated branches of government from the
ruption may be more effective than recommendations for combating local level to the national level. This
civil society campaigns aimed at the corruption in Peru.30 These recom- corruption has infiltrated Peruvian
national level.”29 mendations include added protec- politics, undermining the legitima-
In this case, it could be more ef- tions for government employees cy of the state and causing political
fective to break apart the conditions who blow the whistle on corruption instability. This is the main problem
making corruption so omnipresent and raising awareness of the proper Peru faces today in its democracy,
by first focusing on eradicating it lo- channels for reporting corruption. as demonstrated in the devastating
cally through popular engagement. It will be difficult to implement such effects on civilian trust in govern-
A reasonable plan of action would measures without engaging local ment and politics, elections, and
be to focus the most energy on chip- communities. Transparencia, a Pe- the economy. The situation is bleak,
ping away at corruption on a local ruvian civil organization that works but a plan of action can help pave
level with the efforts of grassroots on improving democracy and po- the way to integrity in Peru’s gov-
organizations and individual civil- litical representation, would make ernment. A logical approach would
ian participation and allow interna- a useful ally for involving local cit- involve international organizations
tional organizations to learn from izens and stakeholders.31 Trans- shifting their efforts and resources
these efforts and see what methods parency International’s Peruvian into partnering with regional enti-
lead to success. After that, interna- Branch, Proética, is already working ties that have proven ability to make
tional organizations could step in on involving Peruvian citizens and a meaningful difference. If this plan
with their newfound knowledge organizations like Transparencia in of action is taken, corruption can
from the experience of local efforts fighting corruption through a net- be addressed more effectively for a
to provide the financial power that work of citizen volunteers and in- more stable political environment.

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ed. 13. Kurmanaev, Anatoly and rus-interim-president-resigns-af-

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html. org/2020/11/15/935215282/pe- quienes-somos/.

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Farm living in Styria, Austria.

Photo taken by Kayce Arkinson, First-Year, studying Global Studies and Data Science.

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(Above) May 2020, Tibet, PRC. Type 120 Black and White Negative Film. Highway leads into lakes.
Photo by Qiaoan Gu, Junior, Biology and Studio Art Double Major, Geography Minor.

(Left) Pokala took this photo in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is hundreds of bikes parked near a subway station en-
trance. Copenhagen has an excellent public transportation system and the city is designed in a way that most
people walk, bike or use public transport to get to where they need to go. The Tour de France time trials happened
in Copenhagen while she was there and residents were given the opportunity to bike the course. I saw many people,
including families with small children, bike the course.
Photo by Rhea Pokala, Sophomore, Public Policy major and Social and Economic Justice minor.

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