The opinions expressed in DemocracyNews discussions are solely those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NED, the International Forum for Democratic Studies, or members of their board or staff. DemocracyNews is an electronic mailing list moderated by the National Endowment for Democracy's International Forum for Democratic Studies. The purpose of the presentation was to provide an assessment of the state of democracy in Peru and prospects for upcoming presidential elections, as well to outline results of a study conducted by the Instituto Apoyo. According to Dr. McClintock, Peru's recent political history consists of an alternation between short-lived democratic and authoritarian regimes. Since 1919, no Peruvian political regime has endured for more than 12 years.
Several factors contribute to the failure of democratic regimes.
Following the failure of a democratic regime, many Peruvians view authoritarian regimes as viable alternatives to ineffective elected governments. Dr. McClintock views incumbent President Fujirmori as a likely victor in the 2000 presidential elections. Despite Peru's worsening economic conditions, Fujimori continues to enjoy widespread support among Peruvians. Fujimori's popularity can be partially attributed to his ability to dominate broadcast media, the major source of news for most Peruvians. However, even if Fujimori is reelected, McClintock feels that he is unlikely to complete his constitutionally mandated term until 2005.