Events

What’s Next for Perú? Analysis of the April 11 Elections and Beyond

Virtual Event April 27, 2021 11:30am – 12:30pm

Overview.

On April 11, amid a prolonged period of political instability, social tension, and citizen distrust – all exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic – Peruvians went to the polls to choose a new president, 130 members of Congress and five representatives of the Andean Parliament. With 18 candidates competing for the presidential ticket in the first-round, two candidates: Pedro Castillo (Peru Libre Party), a far-left union activist and teacher who obtained 19 percent of the vote, and former Congress member Keiko Fujimori (Popular Force Party), the daughter of former authoritarian leader Alberto Fujimori who obtained 13 percent of the vote, will face a run-off on June 6.

Both Castillo and Fujimori represent very distinct political views and whoever wins the Presidency will potentially steer the country in radically different directions. Over the last five years, Peruvians have witnessed clashes between the legislative and executive branches in addition to growing citizen distrust in the political class as several corruption-related charges involving former elected officials became known. Between continued fragmentation in Congress, the management of the country’s health emergency, rampant corruption practices and an economic crisis that left thousands without jobs, the future government of Peru will face many challenges ahead.

Please join the International Republican Institution on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 from 11:30 – 12:30 p.m. ET (Eastern Time) for a discussion on the results of the April 11 general elections and what the outcomes indicate for the run-off presidential election, featuring:

Milagros Campos, Political Science Professor at the Catholic University of Peru and the University San Martín de Porres
Ivan Lanegra Quispe, General Secretary at Asociación Transparencia Perú
Gabriela Serrano, Regional Program Director at the International Republican Institute

The event will feature opening remarks from Katya Rimkunas, Regional Deputy Director for Latin America and the Caribbean at the International Republican Institute.