The Future is Keiko

After a contentious race in the classic Latin American mold (including a former president), Peruvians have spoken to the first part in the race, sending two ideological polar opposites to the June 5th runoff, leaving questions to exactly who will take the helm of the poverty-stricken nation at the July inauguration. Often times these elections can get down to single issue differences between candidates of opposing parties considering the structural poverty in the nation, yet in this case the choice is clear: Keiko Fujimori will remain the ideal choice for the Presidency of Peru.

(Photo courtesy of Living in Peru.com)

While Ollanta Humala has done his finest at spewing Marxist deconstructionism since his declaration of candidacy (and loss), in 2006, his actions are empty as his words. Since then the military nationalist has tried to become a new center-leftist moderate, yet the record is more important than the speech, as seen in the case of Cuba and Venezuela. He has clearly indicated intent not only to supplement the economy with heavy state intervention but further discussed interest in shifting the Peruvian constitution is such a manner attune to his idol, Hugo Chavez. At best his first place finish represents a populist strike against the incumbency figures of Toledo and lesser candidates, all whom perished below the top two contenders.

Fujimori on the other hand is a newcomer (albeit one with an entrenched family) who can bridge the divide between dissident left-wingers and the capitalist investments in Peru. Following in her father's economic legacies would help grow the country out of its recession while endorsing fair standards in poverty reduction. She is also young--and more critically, a female, which will shift up the deadlock in Latin America by providing a figure outside the traditionalist male structure.

For those who crucify her for the legacy of her indicted father Alberto, they may wish to consider not only the general challenges which the former president faced and the high probability that similar situations will not be the norm given his accomplishments. The elder statesman's questionable methods are no longer needed given the stability of the current country and the general decline in internal strife since the election of Alejandro Toledo in 2001.

Not surprisingly, the most critical issue facing Peru in the immediate future is building its economy so as to prevent the further settling of debt into its structure. Fujimori's policies closely mimic those of her father, under whose leadership poverty was significantly reduced and business industrialization expanded as well. Compared to Ollanta, she is a demigod, while his views offer nothing but immature sniveling about some radical philosophy long-since proven to be a clear and total failure.

For the future, and the bettering of Peru, the people must pick the only sane candidate with qualifications to fix the economic state, and that candidate is Keiko.




Michael Veramendi

National Alliance Vice President for Foreign Issues