The state of Peruvian democracy has been on a downward spiral since former President Pedro Castillo was removed from office over a year ago, as highlighted in a recent report by Freedom House. The report revealed a government crackdown on protesters, interference with judicial independence, and erosion of democratic protections, resulting in Peru being downgraded to “partly free” status for 2023 and 2024.
Various government bodies and branches have seen their independence weakened, leaving little room for opposition to congressional decisions. Will Freeman, the author of the report, noted that Peru experienced one of the largest drops in its Freedom House score globally. This has raised concerns about the upcoming elections in 2026, with the possibility that all institutions could be controlled by Congress.
Following Castillo’s impeachment and arrest in December 2022, the country experienced political turmoil, with widespread protests demanding new elections and government reform. However, efforts to push for early elections were rejected by Congress multiple times, leaving interim President Dina Boluarte in power until 2026. Boluarte’s heavy-handed response to protests has resulted in numerous civilian casualties, with little to no accountability from the government.
Additionally, legislative moves to limit transparency and oversight have raised further concerns about the state of democracy in Peru. Actions such as weakening judicial oversight and targeting corruption investigations have drawn criticism from civil society groups and international observers. This downward trend has led to doubts about the fairness of the upcoming elections and the potential for the current status quo to maintain its grip on power through constitutional changes and manipulation.