Peru 2022: Democratic Collapse, Social Estallido and Authoritarian Transition

Abstract

This article analyzes the political situation in Peru in 2022, focusing on the state of democracy through an analysis that combines structural and conjunctural factors. The argument is that the cyclical confrontation between the Executive and Legislative powers –noticeable since 2016— resulted in a victory of the Legislative that led to an imbalance of powers in favor of Congress. This altered not only the 200-year-old tradition of presidentialism in the country, but also the fundamental principles of a democracy reinaugurated in 2001. The estallido emerged as a reaction and accentuated both the delegitimization of the government and of the regime, as a whole. The instauration of an authoritarian government deepened the confrontation. In this way, the country entered an authoritarian transition with uncertain results.