{ "id": "R44445", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "number": "R44445", "active": true, "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "versions": [ { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 453490, "date": "2016-06-14", "retrieved": "2016-10-17T19:52:40.176833", "title": "Peru: Politics, Economy, and Elections", "summary": "This report provides an overview of Peru\u2019s political, economic, and security conditions and of U.S.-Peruvian relations. \nAs President Ollanta Humala is nearing the end of his five-year term, Peru held national elections for the presidency and the 130-seat unicameral legislature on April 10, 2016. Because none of the presidential candidates won an absolute majority, a runoff was held June 5 between two center-right candidates. Economist Pedro Pablo Kuczynski defeated former congresswoman Keiko Fujimori by less than 1% of the vote, 50.12% to 49.88%.\nFor months, Fujimori had maintained a strong lead in what began as a field of 18 candidates. However, there is strong sentiment against her candidacy, as well. Both the strong support for and the opposition to Fujimori stem mostly from the legacy of her father, Alberto Fujimori, whose harsh security policy helped to squash the Sendero Luminoso terrorist group but also entailed gross violations of human rights. The elder Fujimori is serving a 25-year prison sentence in Peru for crimes against humanity and corruption. In the first round, Keiko Fujimori won 40% of the vote and Kuczynski won 21% of the vote. Kuczynski pulled ahead in the final round in part because of support from anti-Fujimori voters, including leftist Ver\u00f3nika Mendoza, who had placed third in the first round. The new president and congress are to assume office on July 28, 2016, for five-year terms.\nSince 2001, Peru\u2019s economy has been one of the strongest in Latin America. President Humala\u2019s economic strategy has been to maintain free-market policies while working to narrow the wide economic distribution gap and eliminate the social exclusion of Peru\u2019s poor, mostly indigenous population. Deep social divides over how to pursue this aim have continued to undercut political stability in Peru. Social unrest and debate over exploitation of natural resources has long been and will likely remain a major challenge for any Peruvian government. The more serious disputes have involved the mining industry and the rights of indigenous peoples in those areas where mining exists or where mining interests intend to operate. Humala has found it politically difficult to balance his stated desire to help the poor and indigenous with his effort to encourage investment by the business sector, especially the extractive industry. In addition, some observers project that the current El Ni\u00f1o weather pattern hitting Peru could hurt Peru\u2019s economic growth.\nPeru and the United States have a strong and cooperative relationship. Several issues in U.S.-Peruvian relations are likely to be considered in decisions by Congress and the Administration on future aid to and cooperation with Peru. The United States supports the strengthening of Peru\u2019s democratic institutions, counternarcotics efforts, security and respect for human rights, and environmental protection. A dominant theme in bilateral relations is the effort to stem the flow of illegal drugs, mostly cocaine, between the two countries. In the economic realm, the United States supports bilateral trade relations and Peru\u2019s further integration into the world economy. A bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) between the United States and Peru entered into force on February 1, 2009. In addition, both countries are parties to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, a proposed FTA with 10 other countries.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R44445", "sha1": "349411dd01073a383659463e277adf6add00ee5a", "filename": "files/20160614_R44445_349411dd01073a383659463e277adf6add00ee5a.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R44445", "sha1": "b7b73f09d8e250acad319e26d5a49eafcc896197", "filename": "files/20160614_R44445_b7b73f09d8e250acad319e26d5a49eafcc896197.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4847, "name": "Latin America, Caribbean, & Canada" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 452402, "date": "2016-05-05", "retrieved": "2016-05-24T19:11:13.572941", "title": "Peru: Politics, Economy, and Elections in Brief", "summary": "This report provides an overview of Peru\u2019s political, economic, and security conditions and of U.S.-Peruvian relations. \nAs President Ollanta Humala is nearing the end of his five-year term, Peru held national elections for the presidency and the 130-seat unicameral legislature on April 10, 2016. Because none of the presidential candidates won an absolute majority, a runoff will be held June 5. \nFor months, center-rightist Keiko Fujimori had maintained a strong lead in what began as a field of 18 candidates. However, there is strong sentiment against her candidacy, as well. Both the strong support for and the opposition to Fujimori stem mostly from the legacy of her father, Alberto Fujimori, whose harsh security policy helped to squash the Sendero Luminoso terrorist group but also entailed gross violations of human rights. The elder Fujimori is serving a 25-year prison sentence in Peru for crimes against humanity and corruption. \nThe disqualification of two popular candidates, Julio Guzm\u00e1n and Cesar Acu\u00f1a, in March 2016 changed the landscape of the race and raised questions regarding the electoral institutions\u2019 neutrality and competency. The removal of Guzm\u00e1n and Acu\u00f1a opened the space for center-right economist Pedro Pablo Kuczynski and leftist Ver\u00f3nika Mendoza to move up in polls to a technical tie for second place just a week before the vote. On election day, Keiko Fujimori won 40% of the vote and Pedro Pablo Kuczynski won 21% of the vote. The two will proceed to the runoff election. The new president and congress are to assume office in July 2016.\nSince 2001, Peru\u2019s economy has been one of the strongest in Latin America. President Humala\u2019s economic strategy has been to maintain free-market policies while working to narrow the wide economic distribution gap and eliminate the social exclusion of Peru\u2019s poor, mostly indigenous population. Deep social divides over how to pursue this aim have continued to undercut political stability in Peru. Social unrest and debate over exploitation of natural resources has long been and will likely remain a major challenge for any Peruvian government. The more serious disputes have involved the mining industry and the rights of indigenous peoples in those areas where mining exists or where mining interests intend to operate. Humala has found it politically difficult to balance his stated desire to help the poor and indigenous with his effort to encourage investment by the business sector, especially the extractive industry. In addition, some observers project that the current El Ni\u00f1o weather pattern hitting Peru could hurt Peru\u2019s economic growth.\nPeru and the United States have a strong and cooperative relationship. Several issues in U.S.-Peruvian relations are likely to be considered in decisions by Congress and the Administration on future aid to and cooperation with Peru. The United States supports the strengthening of Peru\u2019s democratic institutions, counternarcotics efforts, security and respect for human rights, and environmental protection. A dominant theme in bilateral relations is the effort to stem the flow of illegal drugs, mostly cocaine, between the two countries. In the economic realm, the United States supports bilateral trade relations and Peru\u2019s further integration into the world economy. A bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) between the United States and Peru entered into force on February 1, 2009. In addition, both countries are parties to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, a proposed FTA with 10 other countries.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R44445", "sha1": "3ed1cf8e30df52074019dbcdae637e8dc1e56c6b", "filename": "files/20160505_R44445_3ed1cf8e30df52074019dbcdae637e8dc1e56c6b.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R44445", "sha1": "a752df8444045de1800f1318c4c095ef9f557133", "filename": "files/20160505_R44445_a752df8444045de1800f1318c4c095ef9f557133.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 281, "name": "Latin America and the Caribbean" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 451471, "date": "2016-04-06", "retrieved": "2016-04-07T17:28:53.223029", "title": "Peru: Politics, Economy, and Elections in Brief", "summary": "This report provides an overview of Peru\u2019s political, economic, and security conditions and of U.S.-Peruvian relations. \nAs President Ollanta Humala is nearing the end of his five-year term, Peru is preparing to hold national elections for the presidency and the 130-seat unicameral legislature on April 10, 2016. In several recent elections, Peruvians have elected a presidential candidate who surged from far behind in the polls in the final weeks of the campaign\u2014as was the case with President Humala in 2011. The disqualification of two popular candidates, Julio Guzm\u00e1n and Cesar Acu\u00f1a, in March 2016 changed the landscape of the race and raised questions regarding the electoral institutions\u2019 neutrality and competency. \nFor months, center-rightist Keiko Fujimori has maintained a strong lead in what began as a field of 18 candidates. Both the strong support for and opposition to Fujimori stem mostly from the legacy of her father, Alberto Fujimori, whose harsh security policy helped to squash the Sendero Luminoso terrorist group but also entailed gross violations of human rights. The elder Fujimori is serving a 25-year prison sentence in Peru for crimes against humanity and corruption. The removal of Guzm\u00e1n and Acu\u00f1a opened the space for center-right economist Pedro Pablo Kuczynski and leftist Ver\u00f3nika Mendoza to move up in polls to a technical tie for second place just a week before the vote. \nKeiko Fujimori is not expected to have enough votes to garner the 50% plus one needed to win outright, so the elections likely will proceed to a runoff between the top two contenders in June. The new president and congress are expected to assume office in July 2016.\nSince 2001, Peru\u2019s economy has been one of the strongest in Latin America. President Humala\u2019s economic strategy has been to maintain free-market policies while working to narrow the wide economic distribution gap and eliminate the social exclusion of Peru\u2019s poor, mostly indigenous population. Deep social divides over how to pursue this aim have continued to undercut political stability in Peru. Social unrest and debate over exploitation of natural resources has long been and will likely remain a major challenge for any Peruvian government. The more serious disputes have involved the mining industry and the rights of indigenous peoples in those areas where mining exists or where mining interests intend to operate. Humala has found it politically difficult to balance his stated desire to help the poor and indigenous with his effort to encourage investment by the business sector, especially the extractive industry. In addition, some observers project that the current El Ni\u00f1o weather pattern hitting Peru could hurt Peru\u2019s economic growth.\nPeru and the United States have a strong and cooperative relationship. Several issues in U.S.-Peruvian relations are likely to be considered in decisions by Congress and the Administration on future aid to and cooperation with Peru. The United States supports the strengthening of Peru\u2019s democratic institutions, counternarcotics efforts, security and respect for human rights, and environmental protection. A dominant theme in bilateral relations is the effort to stem the flow of illegal drugs, mostly cocaine, between the two countries. In the economic realm, the United States supports bilateral trade relations and Peru\u2019s further integration into the world economy. A bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) between the United States and Peru entered into force on February 1, 2009. In addition, both countries are parties to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, a proposed FTA with ten other countries.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R44445", "sha1": "35e637422b5519aaf43364a9e70a134abc8f2f1a", "filename": "files/20160406_R44445_35e637422b5519aaf43364a9e70a134abc8f2f1a.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R44445", "sha1": "d9345bc529fa831328dc966780451517713a0e14", "filename": "files/20160406_R44445_d9345bc529fa831328dc966780451517713a0e14.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [] } ], "topics": [ "Economic Policy", "Energy Policy", "Foreign Affairs", "Industry and Trade", "Latin American Affairs" ] }