“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” (George Santayana).
Historical memory protects societies from falling into the same political and social mistakes. With just three days to go before the 2026 General Elections in Peru, the population faces the daunting task of “cleaning up” the current political class and renewing the branches of government with officials who work for the common good, leaving behind those disastrous episodes rife with corruption, attacks on life, and the rejection of the will of the people. Under the hashtag #PorEstosNo, let us remember those episodes that must not be repeated, if we exercise our vote wisely.
Systemic Corruption
In the 1990s, corruption within the state apparatus expanded under the government of Alberto Fujimori and his advisor Vladimiro Montesinos, with total control of the judicial and political systems, the view of the state as spoils, the rejection of the basic rules of democratic behavior, and the use of institutions as weapons of the ruling group; in addition to the sell-off of public assets. Does this sound familiar?
Recently, in the current term, the alliances in the Congress of the Republic (with more than 50% of congresspeople under criminal investigation) have reconfigured the powers of the state through institutional takeover. And, without a referendum, articles of the Constitution were amended through laws that harm large sectors of society, such as: the working class affected by pro-crime laws, indigenous communities affected by illegal mining, students affected by the reduction of the Beca 18 program, and vulnerable populations affected by the closure of the Qaliwarma social program, among other examples.
Furthermore, within the justice system, there have been instances of personal persecution (such as the case of the disqualified Attorney General, Delia Espinoza), attempts to ensure impunity in high-profile cases like Odebrecht (with the suspension of prosecutors José Domingo Pérez and Rafael Vela), and the shelving of cases involving alleged money laundering (the “Cócteles” case), among others. With the current political class, the social function and the pursuit of the common good have been lost.
Crimes against humanity
Another recurring episode in our history is the use of force to “restore order.” In the name of this, our history is riddled with massacres in which civilians and even children died (the Barrios Altos, Accomarca, Hualla, and La Cantuta cases), forced sterilizations of thousands of women, torture, and disappearances; in many cases, justice was never served, leaving a trail of pain, suffering, and a process of reconciliation and reparation that remains pending.
Today, the use of force “to restore order” has expanded to suppress peaceful marches by the population; through the demonization of protest and the “terruqueo” strategy; as well as the use of prohibited weapons, which have caused the deaths of approximately 70 victims under the government of Dina Boluarte.
Today, candidates such as Rafael Lopez Aliaga (Renovación Popular), Keiko Fujimori (Fuerza Popular), and Paul Jaimes (Progresemos) are proposing extreme measures against hired killers, based on a “heavy-handed” approach in the style of Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. These include Peru’s withdrawal from the San José Pact and the death penalty. Meanwhile, Alvaro Paz de la Barra (Fe en el Perú) proposes a national state of emergency with the suspension of fundamental rights and guarantees… Can you imagine the consequences, given the history?
Buying Editorial Lines
The institutional takeover also encompasses the mass media, which reach millions of Peruvians, with varying reach depending on the region.
The collective memory still recalls the “Vladivideos,” in which wads of cash were handed out to various media outlets of the time to buy editorial lines and hinder the public’s access to information.
Thus, the “weeping Virgin” was consumed daily, along with comedy shows that denigrated human beings and defamed opponents of the regime, in addition to the censorship of non-aligned journalists.
Recently, in the midst of the election campaign, the use of old strategies became evident, directed against candidate Alfonso López Chau (whose poll numbers were rising), who was reminded of an arrest at the age of 20 on charges of assault and robbery; This was later clarified by the candidate, who stated that the arrest was for “political reasons”; however, the “smear” campaign went ahead, affecting both the candidate and his inner circle.
The great danger facing Peru today is that it will once again enter a state of affairs that harms the country economically, socially, politically, culturally, and organizationally, once again stalling the development of its population. Therefore, the great task today is to remember the past and not repeat that disastrous history.
