After six long weeks, the Peruvian people finally have a president-elect, Pedro Castillo.
He is not the candidate I supported in this race as a Peruvian American. Still, it is my hope that Castillo governs with transparency, on behalf of all Peruvians, no matter who they voted for.
Among the many competing priorities that Castillo must tackle upon being sworn into office on July 28 are getting the COVID-19 pandemic under control and getting the country’s economy back on track. Castillo will actively have to encourage people to get vaccinated and combat vaccine skepticism.
In addition, Castillo’s economic development plan must strive to be more inclusive than those of the past. He must not roll back the gains that have been made over the past three decades of free market reforms. Previously proposed punitive taxes on mining companies and land seizures must be scrapped. Peru has been successful, including during the 2008 financial crisis, because of its mineral wealth, which is still the country’s economic engine. But just as there must be the encouragement of foreign direct investment in the mining sector, small businesses must be empowered and encouraged to formalize.
None of the aforementioned efforts will be possible without addressing the elephant in the room. It’s one that has plagued Peru for decades: corruption. It is just short of a miracle that the Peruvian economy has been so vibrant for so long despite the shaky and unreliable nature of the country’s political institutions.
Of Peru’s previous five presidents who were elected to the presidency, four have been tied to corruption, and one committed suicide as authorities were raiding his home due to corruption. This is a sad and grim reality, which is unsustainable. It hurts not only Peru’s democracy but frankly the very dignity of the Peruvian people. This must change.
If Castillo is truly committed to uniting the Peruvian people after a long and divisive election, he should not follow through with his campaign promise of redrafting the country’s constitution. Leaders that have done this in other countries in the region have often gone on to govern in an undemocratic manner, hence the fear that this proposal has understandably caused many in Peru.
Ultimately, Castillo’s task will entail an unenviable and uphill climb. For the good of all Peruvians, I hope that he keeps an open mind to the thoughts of those that disagree with him.
J.P. Carroll is a senior fellow for national security and inclusive governance at the Joseph Rainey Center for Public Policy. He tweets @JPCarrollDC1.
