MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Peru, a “worrisome democracy” says UN report

A United Nations report shows most Peruvians so disappointed with democracy that they would prefer the return of an authoritarian regime.

The report was released just days before a presidential election which has a populist, ultra nationalist former Army colonel leading in the public opinion polls.

"Democracy in Peru" published by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) shows that 73.2% of Peruvians argue in favour of authoritarianism and 90% are convinced that politicians are to blame for the demise of democracy.

"The most urgent, most frequent complaint is the need to impose authority" in a country where 35% of citizens have no idea what democracy is and another 21.3% don't answer says report coordinator Luis Vargas Aybar.

Statistics do not mean that Peruvians reject democracy, but that they "are unhappy with this kind of democracy so out of touch with their needs".

"It does not mean that 70% of Peruvians want an authoritarian government; people call for a democracy that delivers order and authority; democracy is not at odds with authority in the framework of the rule of the law" said Vargas.

An overwhelming 67.2% are convinced that "the rich are almost always exploiters" and only 9.7% believe that "thanks to them we have jobs".

"This point reveals once again the elementary conclusion that there is no democracy without development and equality, and no democracy can call itself as such when poverty is widespread, and undermining its foundations".

The UN report describes the Peruvian case a "worrisome democracy", although it praises "the endurance and realism of the Peruvian people".

Actually 54% of Peruvians live in poverty, a figure that jumps to 70% in rural areas according to official statistics.

The report surveyed 11,116 people from urban and rural areas of every Peruvian province and socioeconomic level, with only 3.5% satisfied with the country's performance.

Discouraging is that 61% of interviews, mostly young people, would leave for another country if they had the chance, according to the U.N. report.

However, "it isn't the poorest people who want to leave", because "poor people expectations are less that those of the rich, as a result of social inequality".

Peru will be electing a new president and congress next April 9, with public opinion polls showing the nationalist-populist former Colonel Ollanta Humala leading with 32% vote intention. He's closely followed by conservative candidate Lourdes Flores with 28% preferred by the system and the business community and who was leading the polls until two weeks ago. A distant third is Social democrat Alan Garcia with 21%. The undecided are still significant but they tend to support Humala.

Pollsters are finding what they describe an ethno-political vote in a country where a majority of the population is indigenous and feel boosted by the recent victory in Bolivia of Indigenous Evo Morales.

If no candidate garners 50% plus one vote next April 9, a run off is scheduled in May.