Peru: Deep Political Dissatisfaction Weakens Support for Democracy

Abstract

This paper analyzes the trend of democratic attitudes in Peru using data from the AmericasBarometer. It finds that democratic attitudes in Peru are consistently low, when compared to regional means. The paper also shows that the proportion of respondents holding democratic values has decreased in the last decade or so. We attribute this decline to the growing dissatisfaction with the performance of the political system. We trace this discontent to presidential failures to deliver on promises of greater social inclusion and the growing political dysfunction driven by the obstructionist role of the fujimorista party in Congress. The failed presidency of Pedro Castillo, who disappointed even his own supporters, and the feckless behavior of a Congress riddled by particularistic interests, deepened this discontent, and brought Peru’s democracy to the brink when Castillo tried to shut down Congress. Consequently, citizen dissatisfaction with the performance of democracy has decreased even further.