A constitutional referendum was held in
Peru
, image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg
, image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg
, other_symbol = Great Seal of the State
, other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal
, national_motto = "Fi ...
on 9 December 2018 alongside the second round of
gubernatorial elections.
The referendum, originally proposed by President
Martín Vizcarra
Martín Alberto Vizcarra Cornejo (; born 22 March 1963) is a Peruvian engineer and politician who served as President of Peru from 2018 to 2020. Vizcarra previously served as Governor of the Department of Moquegua (2011–2014), First Vice Pre ...
, saw three of four proposals accepted.
The final proposal of a bicameral congress was denied after Vizcarra withdrew his support following modifications during congressional approval that would have resulted with weaker presidential powers.
Background
Odebrecht scandal
Following the
Odebrecht scandal which saw four of Peru's former presidents involved in corruption scandals, Peruvians demanded government accountability regarding corruption.
President
Martín Vizcarra
Martín Alberto Vizcarra Cornejo (; born 22 March 1963) is a Peruvian engineer and politician who served as President of Peru from 2018 to 2020. Vizcarra previously served as Governor of the Department of Moquegua (2011–2014), First Vice Pre ...
following the
resignation of President Kuczynski stated upon being sworn in on 23 March 2018 that Peruvians have "had enough" of corruption, promising to lead an anti-corruption movement in Peru.
Vizcarra-Fujimorista relations
Since being a minister, Vizcarra faced opposition from
Fujimoristas. The Fujimorista movement was led by
Keiko Fujimori
Keiko Sofía Fujimori Higuchi (; ja, 藤森 恵子, Fujimori Keiko; born 25 May 1975) is a Peruvian politician. Fujimori is the eldest daughter of former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori and Susana Higuchi. From August 1994 to November 2000, ...
, daughter of
Alberto Fujimori
Alberto Kenya Fujimori Inomoto ( or ; born 28 July 1938) is a Peruvian politician, professor and former engineer who was President of Peru from 28 July 1990 until 22 November 2000. Frequently described as a dictator,
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he remains a ...
, a former Peruvian president imprisoned for corruption and
crimes against humanity
Crimes against humanity are widespread or systemic acts committed by or on behalf of a ''de facto'' authority, usually a state, that grossly violate human rights. Unlike war crimes, crimes against humanity do not have to take place within the ...
.
Upon Vizcarra's entrance into the office of the presidency, the Fujimoristas, which held the majority of seats within the
Congress of the Republic of Peru
The Congress of the Republic of Peru ( es, Congreso de la República) is the unicameral body that assumes legislative power in Peru.
Congress' composition is established by Chapter I of Title IV of the Constitution of Peru. Congress is compose ...
, immediately began to oppose Vizcarra's projects.
Process
Proposal
Months after being sworn in, Vizcarra called for a constitutional referendum on 28 July 2018 to prohibit private funding for political campaigns, to ban the reelection of lawmakers and to recreate a bicameral congress.
Congress immediately attempted to prevent judicial and congressional reform from occurring and initially created delays in the process.
Due to these actions, Vizcarra raised a
motion of no confidence
A motion of no confidence, also variously called a vote of no confidence, no-confidence motion, motion of confidence, or vote of confidence, is a statement or vote about whether a person in a position of responsibility like in government or mana ...
threatening the closure of congress.
As a result, congress began the approval process for the referendum.
Congressional approval
The first reform approved by Fujimori-led congress on 18 September 2018 would see the
National Council of the Magistrature renamed the National Board of Justice. The way its members are appointed would also be changed, with new members chosen by a special commission headed by the Attorney General, the Comptroller General, the president of the constitutional tribunal, the president of the judicial branch and the Public Defender through a public contest.
The second reform approved by Congress, on 26 September, was an amendment to article 35 of the
constitution
A constitution is the aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a polity, organisation or other type of Legal entity, entity and commonly determine how that entity is to be governed.
When ...
regulating political party finances, introducing audits and penalties for illegal donations.
After the temporary detention of
Keiko Fujimori
Keiko Sofía Fujimori Higuchi (; ja, 藤森 恵子, Fujimori Keiko; born 25 May 1975) is a Peruvian politician. Fujimori is the eldest daughter of former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori and Susana Higuchi. From August 1994 to November 2000, ...
on 10 October, legislators belonging to
American Popular Revolutionary Alliance
The Peruvian Aprista Party ( es, Partido Aprista Peruano, PAP) () is a Peruvian political party and a member of the Socialist International. The party was founded as the American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (APRA) by Víctor Raúl Haya de l ...
and the Fujimorista-led
Popular Force
People's Force ( es, Fuerza Popular, FP), known as Force 2011 ( es, Fuerza 2011, links=no) until 2012, is a right-wing populist and Fujimorist political party in Peru. The party is led by Keiko Fujimori, former congresswoman and daughter of form ...
introduced a bill the following day on 11 October 2018 to modify Vizcarra's referendum proposals with their own suggestions to the public.
Later in October, the third proposal approved introduced a term limit of one consecutive term for members of Congress–left largely unchanged from Vizcarra's original proposal–while the fourth and final proposal included making Congress a
bicameral
Bicameralism is a type of legislature, one divided into two separate assemblies, chambers, or houses, known as a bicameral legislature. Bicameralism is distinguished from unicameralism, in which all members deliberate and vote as a single grou ...
legislature with 130 deputies and 50 senators.
This final proposal was modified by the Fujimoristas in congress to weaken the power of the presidency and President Vizcarra quickly withdrew his support from creating a bicameral congress.
Final questions
The final referendum questions were:
#''Do you approve the constitutional reform on the conformation and functions of the National Board of Justice, formerly the National Council of the Magistracy?''
#''Do you approve the constitutional reform that regulates the financing of political organizations?''
#''Do you approve the constitutional reform that prohibits the immediate re-election of parliamentarians of the Republic?''
#''Do you approve the constitutional reform that establishes the bicamerality in the Congress of the Republic?''
Preliminary results
Voters ultimately accepted the first three referendum proposals, rejecting the final proposal of establishing a bicameral congress that President Vizcarra had withdrawn his support from after the Fujimorista-controlled congress amended the proposal.
Reactions
President Vizcarra and analysts agreed that the referendum was just the first step of combating corruption that has been well-established in Peru.
Vizcarra also highlighted that the election occurred on
International Anti-Corruption Day
International Anti-Corruption Day has been observed annually, on 9 December, since the passage of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption on 31 October 2003 to raise public awareness for anti-corruption.
Background
The Convention s ...
and the anniversary of the 1824
Battle of Ayacucho
The Battle of Ayacucho ( es, Batalla de Ayacucho, ) was a decisive military encounter during the Peruvian War of Independence. This battle secured the independence of Peru and ensured independence for the rest of South America. In Peru it is co ...
, which sealed independence for not only Peru, but for the entire South American continent.
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Gestión
El Comercio Group (GEC) is a Peruvian media conglomerate that owns multiple newspapers
A newspaper is a periodical publication containing written information about current events and is often typed in black ink with a white or gray back ...
'' stated that results were a victory for Vizcarra while on the other hand, Peruvians had "harshly punished Congress".
References
{{Peruvian elections
Referendums in Peru
2018 in Peru
Peru
, image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg
, image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg
, other_symbol = Great Seal of the State
, other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal
, national_motto = "Fi ...