It is time to support Peru, but observers should keep an eye open to authoritarian temptation
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| We have yet to pass the start-line and it's a long way to the finish. |
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The following are excepts from Carlos E. Ponce’s Article "Is Ollanta Humala the New Autocrat Apprentice?" I think it is a good read for anyone interested in Perú’s future direction. I like Humala’s opening moves, he appears to be distancing himself from his lifelong authoritarian radicalism, but he is not even president yet and it is much too early to “write a blank check.” It is difficult to derive a history of leadership abilities and integrity from a man who is in every sense a wild card.
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He (Humala) comes from the military and he has no government, business, academic or administrative background, so for him the democratic game will be really hard to play. Humala will try for sure to change the constitution in two years to seek for social changes (maybe reelection) and he will be also tempted to reduce the influence of other political parties, including Toledo’s, in his administration. He will have the inclination, as Alberto Fujimori did, to instigate a confrontation with the Parliament to gain control.
Civil society will be a key factor in controlling Humala’s behavior, but it is also time to motivate youth movements to participate in politics and in civil society organizations. Youth will continue to be a countering force in Venezuela and other Alba Countries. Young people are also a critical force in countries on the fence between the two realities, and they will be important to keeping Peru free and democratic and force Humala to keep his promises of a true democratic ruling. Youth movements can become a force for positive change—a voice to hold Humala to his promise that he wants more freedom and democracy, not less.
The Peruvian elected president had a meeting with President Barack Obama and promised to respect free trade, now he will have the challenge to fulfill his words. But his actions distanced himself of such promises when he also visited the long lasting tyranny of the region. When Ollanta Humala made a suppressive trip to Habana to meet Raúl and Fidel Castro and Hugo Chávez he is just mapping his way to a new autocracy in the Americas. He is supporting tyranny and autocracy in Cuba and Venezuela. He is just trying to play a game of power, but it is not a good game for an apprentice.
It is time to support Peru, but not with a blank check. Observers should keep an eye open to authoritarian temptation in and leader’s appetites to seek unending presidential terms or to follow the example of Cristina and the late Nestor Kirchner of Argentina. His trip to Cuba is a strong message of the new times for Peru.
When Gambling, "Keep Your Eyes On The Cards."
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