Two Decades of Politics Without Parties, Growing Tensions Between Powers, and the Risk of Democracy in Peru

Abstract

This study analyzes the relationship between the executive and legislative branches of Peru from to 2001-2002 period through a longitudinal and comparative study. This period marked the beginning of the recovery of democracy after the departure of Alberto Fujimori and the transition of Paniagua. Likewise, in the first few years, there was an apparent stabilization of the party system, which, however, did not consolidate. Similarly, in the first part of the study period, cooperation between the powers was observed. However, from 2016 onwards, we witnessed a growing deadlock or clash between congress and executive, more unstable cabinets, heads of state unable to conclude their mandate, and atomization of the party system. This period concluded with the most serious attack on Peruvian democracy since 2001, the failed coup d'état of Castillo in 2022. Apparently, the variables that would have determined this irregular and worrisome performance of the political system would be the parliamentarization of Peruvian presidentialism, its non-existent party system, and the lack of democratic culture on the part of the political elite.