Archive for the ‘Political Parties’ Category
Unidad Nacional: Only Four Legislators will Go for Re-election
En conferencia de prensa, la candidata presidencial de Unidad Nacional, Lourdes Flores Nano, informó que solo cuatro de sus actuales legisladores buscarán su reelección en las próximas elecciones: Rosa Florián, Emma Vargas, Fabiola Morales e Hildebrando Tapia. El legislador Rafael Rey Rey encabezará la lista de candidatos al Parlamento Andino. Rafael Rey no va a la reelección y encabezará lista al Parlamento Andino
Susana Villarán vs. Ollanta Humala
En declaraciones al diario Correo y, tras manifestar su indignación por la agresión que sufriera la semana pasada por militantes y simpatizantes del Partido Nacionalista Peruano (PNP) en un mercado de Ate-Vitarte, la candidata presidencial de la alianza Concertación Descentralista (CD), Susana Villarán, retó públicamente a su lider Ollanta Humala a un debate de plan de gobierno tras calificarlo de “machista”.
Carmen Rosa Balbi on Business Groups and Peruvian Elections (Part 2)
En su primer análisis en el diario La República, Carmen Rosa Balbi comentó sobre las elecciones y los grupos de poder económico; en esta segunda parte discute las Elecciones y Constitución como Contrato Social.
PNP lanza últimatum para recomposición de lista parlamentaria
Se agudiza la crisis al interior del Partido Nacionalista Peruano (PNP). En declaraciones a la radioemisora CPN, los militantes de las bases provinciales lanzaron hoy un ultimátum a Ollanta Humala para que recomponga la lista de candidatos al Congreso y tome “en cuenta a los miembros de su partido”. El plazo otorgado su líder y candidato a la presidencia vence mañana miércoles 25, día en el que se radicalizarán las acciones de protesta como las tomas de locales y movilizaciones a nivel nacional y de no llegar a un acuerdo, inscribirán una lista propia ante el Jurado Nacional de Elecciones (JNE).
Ollanta Humala reitera en que hay campaña en su contra
Tras la denuncia periodística emitida el día domingo 21 pasado por el programa “Panorama” sobre su supuesta participación en la violación de derechos humanos como jefe de una patrulla militar en la base militar de Madre Mía, en San Martín, nuevamente el candidato a presidencia Ollanta Humala denunció que se ha desatado otra campaña de desprestigio en su contra, asegurando que “es parte de la campaña que algunos medios” han iniciado contra su candidatura y que está dispuesto a someterse a cualquier investigación para que se compruebe que no participó en la ejecución de pobladores de la zona en 1992 bajo el seudónimo del “Capitán Carlos”.
Doubts about Humala´s Vice Presidential Candidate Torres Caro
La Primera has carried a couple of stories on the involvement of Carlos Torres Caro, candidate for vice president in the Humala slate, in the cover-up of election fraud in 1995, known as the Huanucazo. At the time, Torres Caro was working for the Public Ministry, which was run by Blanca Nelida Colan. She was a key ally of Vladimiro Montesinos, the de facto head of the National Intelligence Service. Torres Caro has threatened La Primera with a lawsuit.
[UPDATE: In Hoy con Hildebrandt on January 24, Humala denied that Torres Caro was in any way involved in the Huanucazo. We can find no independent support for the allegation either on the Internet or from with people involved. If anyone has information, we welcome it. –M.A.C. 25.1.06]
Today La Republica reports that Torres Caro offered his legal advice to Genaro Delgado Parker when the mediate magnate was in trouble with the law due to incriminating evidence found on Vladivideos (videos from the archive of the National Intelligence Service, taped by Vladimiro Montesinos). The problem is that at the time Torres Caro was still working for the Public Ministry.
The implication of this is that Torres Caro was a member of the judicial mafia that controlled the Public Ministry under Fujimori and he used his post to peddle influence even after Fujimori and Montesinos fell from power.
Alternative Voices Running for Congress
La República, 23 de enero del 2006. Fotos: Arturo Pérez
En una muestra de tolerancia y respeto a la diversidad sexual, partidos de izquierda apuestan por el cambio para que los sectores marginados por su opción sexual tengan opción de representatividad en el Congreso. Por el Frente Amplio de Izquierda postula Belissa Andía y por el Partido Socialista se presenta Susel Paredes. Ambas cuentan con amplio respaldo en sus respectivos partidos: Belissa Andía (Manuel Andía en su DNI), es apoyada por el Comité de Izquierda por la Diversidad Sexual dentro del Frente Amplio, y Susel Paredes obtuvo el quinto lugar en las elecciones internas del Partido Socialista y podría llevar ese número en la lista de candidatos.
Alan García y la Propuesta del Concejal Joven
Buscando la renovación de la clase política, Alan García, candidato por el Partido Aprista, apuesta dentro de su plan de gobierno por los electores menores de 30 años proponiendo la creación de lo que denominó la Ley del Concejal Joven, que exige a los partidos que presenten el 25% de sus listas de concejales con personas menores de 20 años. Una astuta propuesta política del líder del APRA, puesto que los jóvenes representan el 37% del universo electoral del país.
Lourdes Flores on the Campaign Trail
Maxwell A. Cameron
January 21, 2006
A note in La República provided advance notice of a walk with Lourdes Flores through the working class district of Independencia, in the northern cone of Lima. We grabbed a cab and arrived at the meeting place a few minutes before the walk was to begin at 2:45 pm. At first, we could see no sign of any campaign activity as we strolled along Avenida Tupac Amaru until, at last, we spotted a couple of late model SUVs—the shiniest cars on the street. They proved to be the advance crew.
We loitered for a while, chatting with journalists and members of Flores’ entourage while waiting for the presidential candidate. Finally, a campaign bus arrived carrying a group of supporters, followed by a large silver SUV. We formed a caravan and headed toward the hills, arriving at the end of a paved street in the neighborhood Tupac Amaru Payet. Flores emerged from her car and was immediately surrounded by enthusiastic supporters, including congressional candidates Lourdes Alcorta, Pepe Kleinberg, and Gaby Pérez del Solar.
Photo: M.A. Cameron
Someone offered a glass of chicha, which Flores accepted with pleasure. From the sidelines, a couple of women from the barrio called for Flores to speak. One shouted “Lourdes, don’t forget the poor.” But the candidate did not stop to speak at that point. The plan was to move on foot along dirt paths carved by usage around a hillside densely covered by ramshackle and precarious houses, some made of matt, some wood, and the more solid ones of brick. Some of Flores’ entourage were unimpressed. One referred pejoratively to the neighborhood as “un asiento bien telaraña” (in local slang, a very poor settlement).
Photo: M.A. Cameron
As the entourage moved through the neighborhood, the crowd swelled. Some were curious, others genuinely supportive. One onlooker said she supported the candidate of Unión Nacional because she is a woman. Why was that important? “Women think better than men” she said, they take care of the household economy. “Men work hard, but they don’t distribute.” Another bystander expressed similar views. “A woman should have the opportunity,” she said. “There have been so many men elected and they have done nothing. Women are more intuitive in many ways.” She particularly liked Flores because of her honesty. An elderly woman approached us to say she hoped Flores would improve education, particularly civic education and vocational training.
Photo: M.A. Cameron
When we emerged from the narrow dirt paths of the barrio back onto paved streets, Flores stopped to speak with the press. The crowd was hushed as the candidate took questions from the media. At one point a water balloon was tossed into the crowd, either by someone seeking to make a point or just for amusement.
Photo: M.A. Cameron
What is Missing in this Picture?
Lourdes Flores, unlike Valentin Paniagua, gives the impression of wanting the presidency. She has a reputation for being a good listener, and her public statements are coherent and intelligent. Moreover, we were able to observe enough spontaneous expressions of support from onlookers to believe that her support base outside the affluent districts of Lima is real, especially among women. Consistent with her low negative ratings, we saw no clear expressions of hostility from the people in Tupac Amaru Payet.
Yet Flores and her supporters looked more than a little out of place in this working class, mestizo, barrio. One member of Flores’ entourage said she emerged from a similar walk so covered in dust that she had to take off her clothes in her garden before entering her house.
How deep is the connection between Flores and her potential supporters? The candidate was not met by local organizing committees or leaders, nor given a stage on which to speak directly to the local folk. If there were local organizing committees, or grassroots leaders involved, they were given no prominence. In the absence of such connections with the community, Tupac Amaru Payet seemed to serve as a stage for a public appearance designed to reinforce Flores’ image in the media as someone concerned with the plight of the poor. The inauthenticity of the event was made all the more dramatic by the contrast between the white, middle class supporters of UN, who were bused into the barrio, and the poor, cholo inhabitants of Tupac Amaru Payet who seemed not to be linked to the candidate in an organized way.
Photo: M.A. Cameron
Woodman Election in 2002 Overturned Due to Fraud
Insiders close to Lourdes Flores Nano privately admit that it was a mistake to appoint Arturo Woodman as vice presidential candidate for Union Nacional.
Now new questions are being asked about Woodman. In 2002 he was narrowly elected mayor of Santa Maria, a tiny resort district of Lima, by a margin of just 20 votes (Woodman won 446 votes and his closest competitor won 426). His victory was overturned by electoral authorities after it turned out that 288 persons had changed their residence just prior to the election. Most of the migratory votes went to Woodman. After the suspicious votes were annulled, the victor was declared to be another candidate.
Identity of “Assassin” Revealed
The identity of the “assassin” who offered to murder José Vega in order to open the way for Dante Yorges to run for a seat in congress is now known. He is Marco Antonio Muñoz Vásquez (aka Negro Toño), and he has worked in the security detail of various candidates in the past, including Alejandro Toledo and Máximo San Roman.
After offering to kill Vega, Muñoz negotiated with two television stations to sell the compromising videotape. In recent years, the surreptitious taping or videotaping of illicit activities and the sale of such material to the media has become widespread. The most famous case is the Vladivideo which brought down the Fujimori government in 2000. Muñoz was the bodyguard of Germán Barrera (El Patriota) during the negotiations over the release of the Vladivideo.
While Vegas life was apparently never in real danger, there remains little doubt that Yorges thought he was dealing with a hired hit man. He may have been entrapped, but fall into the trap he did.
At this point is is unclear whether Muñoz was motivated only by the desire to acquire compromising material that could be used to negotiate with the media, or whether any of Humala’s political adversaries had a hand in the matter. A palpable nausia can be sensed in most of the commentaries on this affair.
Garcia calls for Flores to drop Woodman
In a clear attempt to avoid being seen as the candidate of the right, in recent days Lourdes Flores Nano has had some tough words for Peru’s business leaders. In response, Garcia has asked for Flores Nano to remove Arturo Woodman from her slate. Flores refuses.
Semana Movida para Ollanta Humala
Tras lograr el primer lugar en la intención de voto de diversas compañías encuestadoras, esta semana se inició lo que parece ser una telenovela electoral para el líder del PNP.
Humala denounces plot to assassinate secretary general of UPP
Maxwell A. Cameron
January 20, 2006
NOTE TO READERS: LOOK AHEAD TO JANUARY 23. THE STORY OF THE ASSASSINATION PLOT PROVES TO BE A FARSE.
Dante Yorges: “Don’t do it in the party locale or other place because people are around him like flies.”
Hit man: “You suggest the door of his house.”
Yorges: “In his house, at the door.”
Hit man: “How? With lead?”
Yorges: “Lead in the head would be best. One shot of lead, and done.”
Source: El Comercio, January 20, 2006
Is this a scene from a B-rated gangster film? No, it is part of the process of selecting candidates to run for congress.
Ollanta Humala has denounced a plot to kill secretary general of the Unión Por el Perú (UPP), José Vega Antonio. The plot was allegedly hatched by another UPP leader, Dante Yorges, the secretary of mobilization of the same party. The television program “Cuarto Poder” aired a video in which Yorges and a hit man (who remains unidentified, but was apparently the source of the video) discussed how to eliminate Vega.
Los cuatro partidos lideres expusieron sus propuestas en materia educativa
El Foro Educativo reunió a los principales grupos políticos del país para que expusieran sus propuestas en materia educativa en caso de acceder al poder en las próximas elecciones presidenciales. Todas coincidieron en el aspecto de mejorar el bajísimo nivel de la educación que cuenta el país: nivel de profesorado paupérrimo y mal asalariado, aulas escolares inadecuadas para un buen aprendizaje, una política educativa inadecuada para nuestra realidad, entre otros aspectos.
Las principales propuestas en materia educativa por partido fueron:
Gonzalo García. Candidato a la Vicepresidencia por el Partido Nacionalista
– Meritocracia que permita aumento de sueldo a docentes.
– Destinar un impuesto a sobreganancia a inversión en colegios
– Capacitación a los docentes durante los veranos.
Federico Prieto Celi. Experto en el área de educación por Unidad Nacional
– Vincular la demanda laboral con la formación académica.
– Apostar por recomponer la escuela pública.
– Erradicar el analfabetismo.
Mercedes Cabanillas. Experta en el área de educación por el APRA
– Ampliar las clases en los colegios de lunes a sábado.
– Orientar el ITF a los gastos en educación.
– Canje de deuda externa por inversión en educación.
Valentín Paniagua. Candidato a la Presidencia por el Frente de Centro
– Meritocracia para aumento de sueldo a docentes.
– Canje de deuda externa por inversión en educación.
– Relanzar programa de vivienda para el magisterio.
Andrade Proposes Cuts to Congressional Salaries
Maxwell A. Cameron
January 17, 2006
Alberto Andrade, vice presidential candidate for the Frente de Centro (Valentin Paniagua’s slate), has proposed a drastic reduction in the salaries of members of congress, and the virtual elimination of luxurious expense accounts. The proposal is likely to be well received by most voters who are scandalized by the high salaries earned by members of congress.
Are salaries really out of line, or is the outrage based on populist demagoguery? Member of congress earn 10,120 Nuevo Soles per month, according to El Comercio, plus 16,600 Nuevo Soles in expenses. This brings their total income to 26,720 Nuevo Soles, or US $7,843/month ($94,000 annually). By contrast, the minimum wage is $149/month (506 Nuevo Soles) and average annual per capita income in Peru is $5,260 (according to the UNDP). By contrast, the typical member of parliament in Canada earns US $116,000 ($135,000 Canadian), while per capita income is US $31,571. So, while the Canadian parliamentarian is roughly 4 times richer than the average Canadian, the Peruvian member of congress is 18 times richer than the average Peruvian.
For data on per capita income: United Nations Development Programme
The Bachelet Effect
Source: Carlin, La Republica, January 17, 2006
48 Congresistas Postularían a la Reelección
Source: La República, 16 de enero del 2006
Basándose en la reciente encuesta del Instituto de Investigaciones Económicas y Sociales de la Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería que arrojó que el 75% considera que los congresistas solo se representan a ellos mismos, y solo el 5.8% opina que trabajan para el pueblo, la periodista Milagros Salazar realizó un informe para el diario La República sobre los congresistas que van a la reelección, mostrando la tendencia de las agrupaciones políticas a la renovación, motivada por el descrédito del Congreso.
Haciendo una revisión de las agrupaciones políticas con mayor representación en el Congreso vemos que de los 86 parlamentarios del Apra, Perú Posible, Unidad Nacional, Acción Popular, Somos Perú y Perú Ahora, 48 irían a la reelección, el 53% del total de congresistas.
Partido por partido, los resultados son los siguientes:
– APRA: Solo 10 parlamentarios de los 28 de la bancada integrarían la lista al Congreso, destacando los nombres de Mauricio Mulder, Mercedes Cabanillas y Jorge del Castillo.
– Frente de Centro: se ha renovado la confianza a los cuatro parlamentarios de los partidos de la alianza: Acción Popular y Somos Perú. En el caso de AP debido a que Yonhy Lescano y Pedro Morales han realizado una buena labor en la defensa del consumidor.
– Unidad Nacional: La renovación sería del 50%, participando 5 de los 12 congresistas, manteniéndose los casos de Rafael Rey y José Barba Caballero aún en negociaciones con Lourdes Flores Nano.
– FIM: 6 de los 11 congresistas postularían a la reelección.
– Perú Ahora: El cambio es casi total. Solo Jorge Chávez Sibina postulará al Legislativo.
– Perú Posible: De los 31 parlamentarios, 21 pugnarían por integrar la lista pese a ser la bancada parlamentaria más desacreditada y cuestionada.
Campaigns Follow Voters to Beach
The campaigning continued, even on Agua Dulce beach at Chorrillos on Sunday afternoon. Beachgoers who dared to participate in an dance contest won a case of beer.
Photo: M.A. Cameron
Carmen Rosa Balbi on Business Groups and Peruvian Elections
The “No Legislative Re-Election” Bandwagon
Maxwell A. Cameron
January 14, 2006
The topic of re-election of legislators is the flavor of the moment. Since Ollanta Humala proposed that no member of congress in Union Por el Peru (UPP) be allowed to run for re-election, most other leaders have jumped on the no-reelection bandwagon.
Frente de Centro Presentó Plan de Gobierno
El ex presidente y candidato a la presidencia por el Frente de Centro, Valentín Paniagua, presentó los tres principios fundamentales y seis lineamientos centrales que constituyen la columna vertebral del plan de gobierno de la alianza electoral de Acción Popular, Somos Perú y la Coordinadora Nacional de Independientes.
Los principios fundamentales son:
1. Un Gobierno abierto y dialogante
2. Satisfacer las exigencias y necesidades de la población
3. Establecer un sistema de homologación de sueldos en concordancia con los limitados recursos del Estado.
Mientras que los seis lineamientos centrales son:
1. Impulsar el desarrollo humano brindando acceso a servicios básicos a todos los peruanos.
2. Lucha contra la corrupción, por lo que solicitará facultades especiales al Congreso para legislar en los primeros 60 días contra dicho flagelo.
3. El compromiso del Acuerdo Nacional que busca destinar a la educación el 6% del PBI.
4. Incentivar la inversión nacional y extranjera.
5. Descentralización, no solo como la elección de autoridades, sino también el acceso a la salud y la educación.
6. Elevar la autoestima nacional a través de políticas de capacitación social.
Interview with Susana Villaran
Wanted: Congressional Candidates – Part II
To deal with their bad image among the electorate, political party leaders are requesting current elected members not to run for re-election. Leaders are also seeking a large number of fresh faces for their congressional lists. Today La Republica posted that political parties are requesting between $5,000-25,000 to “potential” candidates to include them in congressional lists. Another strategy used to recruit new faces has been to post paid advertisement in local newspapers (see: Wanted: Congressional Candidates).
Lourdes Flores Corrects Woodman
According to business newspaper, Lourdes Flores corrected her vice presidential running mate, Arturo Woodman, who said the struggle against corruption is not one of his priorities.
The Illusion of Legislative Renewal
Maxwell A. Cameron
January 10, 2006
With the deadline to register presidential candidates past, attention now turns from candidates to the executive office to candidates to the legislature. The two front-running candidates are calling for sweeping renewal in congress. Ollanta Humala (candidate of Unión Por el Perú, UPP) is asking that all members of the congressional slate supporting his proposed government be non-incumbents. Lourdes Flores Nano (candidate for Unión Nacional) has also proposed a number of new faces for congress and has asked more established leaders to step aside. Both these initiatives, while popular with voters, have fallen like cold water on incumbent members of congress behind these candidates.
Ricardo Uceda on Peruvian Elections
Here is a very astute analysis by Ricardo Uceda, Peru’s election: a second leap into the void? posted on January 9 in Open Democracy. Uceda rightly emphasizes the importance of corruption as an issue in this election.
24 Presidential Candidates in the Running
Source: El Comercio, January 10, 2006
Monday, January 9 was the deadline to register presidential slates. The slates must be reviewed and approved by the National Election Board (Jurado Nacional de Elecciones, or JNE). With 24 presidential candidates applying for registration to compete, this election has broken the previous record set In 1980 with 15 candidates.
Three candidates are in the lead, so far: Lourdes Flores, Ollanta Humala, and Alan Garcia. Humala´s candidacy is not secure yet due to tachas, or censures, presented to the JNE. The JNE (Resolucion 010-2006-JEE-LC) rejected the application to register the Si Cumple presidential slate headed by Alberto Fujimori. The Fujimoristas had a backup plan, however, and registered Martha Chavez as presidential candidate under the label of Alianza Para el Futuro.
Presidential candidates have until January 18 to retire from the presidential run and opt for running for congress.
Diez Canseco in dialogue with Ollanta Humala
Maxwell A. Cameron
January 9, 2006
Who can best capture a public mood that demands change?
In an interview on “Hoy con Hildebrandt,” Javier Diez Canseco argued that Ollanta Humala personifies the desire for change among millions of Peruvians who feel like foreigners in their own country.
Dissent within the Ranks: Ollanta Humala called a “Little Dictator” by former ally
Maxwell A. Cameron
January 9, 2006
Congressman Michael Martínez has called Ollanta Humala a “little dictator.” Martínez is a sitting member for Unión Por el Perú (UPP), and he was reportedly instrumental in building the bridge between UPP and the Partido Nacionalista del Perú (PNP). His dispute with Humala arises from a suggestion made by Humala in an extraordinary national congress of the UPP on Saturday, January 7, 2006, that all sitting members of UPP should not run for re-election. This suggestion was greeted with applause, but it left UPP incumbents nonplussed. As a result, a group of party leaders impugned Humala’s candidacy in their own party before the election authorities (the Jurado Electoral Especial de Lima, or Special Election Board of Lima) on the grounds that he has not renounced his PNP membership and hence cannot be the candidate for UPP. The objection, the second to be imposed on Humala’s candidacy, is not expected to prosper. Humala was chosen as the leader of the UPP in internal elections on December 17, 2005. Word on the street is that Humala will make whatever alliances are necessary to reach the presidency, and that he will, like Fujimori, immediately disassociate himself with anyone who is inconvenient once in power.
Photo by Marco Garro, Peru.21
Presentan 2 tachas contra candidatura de Ollanta Humala
Luis Giampietri on Amnesty for Armed Forces
Five Presidential Slates Registered Today
Photo: Perú 21, Fidel Carrillo
Hoy continuaron las inscripciones de planchas presidenciales frente a los próximos comicios del 9 abril. Humberto Lay Sun y Alberto Borea, candidatos presidenciales de Restauración Nacional (RN) y Fuerza Democrática (FD) se presentaron en el Jurado Electoral Especial de Lima para inscribir sus planchas presidenciales, así como de Justicia Nacional, encabezada por Jaime Salinas; mientras que en horas de la tarde se apersonaron la candidata de la Concertación Descentralista, Susana Villarán, y Natale Amprimo, quien postula por el partido Alianza para el Progreso.
Movimiento Nueva Izquierda Registered Presidential Slate
La Republica: Several Political Parties Have Links with Fujimori
Según el diario La República, además de Nueva Mayoría, Cambio 90 y Sí Cumple, los partidos Reconstrucción Democrática, Con Fuerza Perú, Y se llama Perú y Restauración Nacional tienen evidentes nexos con el fujimorismo. El ex presidente ha manifestado en Chile su interés en colocar congresistas en el nuevo Parlamento peruano, ubicando a sus miembros en diferentes partidos que si son electos se reagruparían en una sola bancada buscando favorecerlo.
Lourdes Flores Nano Registered her Presidential Slate and Government Platform
Photo: La República, Pedro Abad.
La candidata a la presidencia por Unidad Nacional sostuvo que su gobierno priorizará la alimentación, salud, educación, trabajo y seguridad interna Download file
Government Platforms: The People Behind the Scenes
Hugo Chavez and Evo Morales Eulogize Ollanta Humala
Ollanta Humala was eulogized by the president of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, during his short visit to that country. At a press conference in Caracas, President Chavez saluted Humala and called him a “Quixote.” Chavez was referring to the uprising led by Humala and a group of soldiers in October 2000. Humala’s trip to Venezuela coincided with the official visit of the newly elected president of Bolivia, Evo Morales. Humala attended the official ceremonies involving Morales and Chavez held in the Miraflores Palace in Caracas. President Morales also saluted Humala, saying that he is convinced popular movements will triumph in the upcoming elections in Peru. Humala was in Venezuela at the invitation of Chavez’s Fifth Republic Movement (MVR). For his part, Humala emphasized the importance of the processes of change that have occurred in Venezuela and Argentina, and are now being initiated in Bolivia. He described the “new face of Latin America” as “nationalist, indigenista, and leftist.”
Source: Correo, January 4, 2006
Observatorio Electoral
There is a new electronic publication from Palestra, the Portal de Asuntos Publicos de la Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru (PUCP), it is called Observatorio Electoral.
Interviews with Isaac and Elena Humala
Could Drug Money Finance Political Campaigns in Peru?
According to El Comercio, it seems likely…
Interview with Gonzalo Aguirre
APRA’s Emergency Plan for its First 180 Days in Power
Source: La Republica, January 2, 2006
Interview with Lourdes Mendoza del Solar
Interview with Valentin Paniagua
Lourdes Flores’ Achilles’ Heel: Arturo Woodman
Maxwell A. Cameron
December 30, 2005
In an interview published in La Primera, Lourdes Flores Nano was asked a hard question. The interviewer, Matilde Soto, started by saying: “A shadow follows you that suggests you are the candidate of the entrepreneurial elite, yet you opted to select Arturo Woodman as your first vice president in your electoral slate.” She then threw her punch: “Did you put him there to assure financing from the Romero group?” This is a really tough question, because Flores has to demonstrate that she has the ability to reach beyond the confines of her traditional party base; that she is not beholden to big business; and that she is not the candidate of the traditional white, right-wing, urban establishment.
Her answer was as follows: “Arturo Woodman represents an example of a man who is committed to the service of the community in each and every area in which he has attempted to offer his services. I am convinced that we will be the government and that Woodman will be a fundamental element of support in themes like work with the police, citizen security, social policy, sports…”
The question and the answer underscore the biggest vulnerability in Flores’ campaign. She either does not understand the question or hopes she can evade it. The choice of Woodman as vice president links her to one of the most powerful economic groups in Peru. This will win her no votes outside San Isidro and Miraflores–in fact, it will cost her votes she can ill-afford to lose (on December 27 we reported polls showing a decline in support for Flores that we believe is a consequence of the selection of Woodman). What is more, Woodman is linked directly to banker Dionisio Romero, who was captured on more than one “Vladivideo.” Vladivideos are videos from the archives kept by Vladimiro Montesinos, Fujimori’s corrupt intelligence chief.
Inadvertently, Flores may have made corruption a central issue in the campaign. Her best move now? She could drop Woodman like a hot potato, but this would make her look vulnerable and weak. She could mount a spirited defense of Woodman, but this would only draw more attention to the issue (“no, I disagree with Woodman’s views on corruption” is not an easy position to defend). Or she can ignore the problem and hope it goes away. These are unpleasant options, the consequence of a bad choice.
Woodman’s links to Romero, Montesinos
Maxwell A. Cameron
December 30, 2005
Arturo Woodman is the former head of CONFIEP, the nation’s main business association; as such, he is one of the most powerful businessmen in Peru. He has worked closely with Dionisio Romero, reputed to be the most powerful entrepreneur, though now in retirement. Romero was disgraced by his questionable links with Vladimiro Montesinos, Fujimori’s sinister spymaster.
According to Ángel Páez, “Woodman was not only closely involved with the corrupt regime of Alberto Fujimori (1990-2000), but is also a close associate of banker Dionisio Romero, who faced charges for trafficking of influences.” Woodman, he says, “personally brought Romero” to the offices of Montesinos. Romero not only met with Vladimiro Montesinos on a number of occasions, he also helped Montesinos to flee Peru providing a private jet to Montesinos after Fujimori announced his resignation in 2000.
Woodman claims to have severed all links with Romero and his financial group. In what might be read as a implicit defense of Romero, however, he has been critical of anti-corruption efforts in Peru. He argues no one should be charged with influence trafficking just because they met someone influential. Dionisio Romero is facing charges for influence peddling arising in part from his meetings with Montesinos. In response, judge Luis G. Vargas Valdivia has argued that Peru has taken unprecedented steps to improve its anti-corruption controls, but he also insists that the controls are not excessive. Not everyone who met with Montesinos has been charged with criminal activity he says, with reference to Woodman.
Ángel Páez quotes Ronald Gamarra, a former prosecutor and researcher at the Legal Defense Institute, who says: “Someone who has had such close ties to Montesinos should abstain from participating in politics, let alone run for vice president, no matter what party he belongs to.” Not the sort of ringing endorsement of a vice presidential candidate that a front-running presidential candidate might want.
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Indymedia Views on Ollanta Humala
Wanted: Congressional Candidates
According to Peruvian newspapers, a political party posted a paid advertisement in a local newspaper to recruit potential congressional candidates. The notice called for potential applicants with vision who are, among other things, Peruvians between the age of 25 and 35.