Peru

On Sunday, April 9, voters went to the polls in Peru to elect a new president.

The election was exciting because the current president, Alberto Fujimori, who has held tight control over the government, was in a close race with Alejandro Toledo, a former shoeshine boy who emerged from poverty to become a World Bank economist.

That election was so close that a runoff election was scheduled. Toledo asked Fujimori to postpone that vote until international observers could clear up lingering questions. But Fujimori rejected his request and Toledo dropped out of the race.

Fujimori won the run-off election as an unopposed candidate. Many within and outside of Peru now believe Peru's elections did not meet democratic standards.

Peru's constitution calls for a strong president. He is elected by the people and serves as the chief of state and commander of the armed forces. The Prime Minister, appointed by the president, presides over the Council of Ministers (Cabinet), also appointed by the president. The council approves all presidential law decrees and draft bills sent to the legislature.

Members of the legislature are elected to five-year terms, running concurrently with the term of the president. All judges are appointed by the president.

NewsHour Links:

Peruvians elect Alberto Fujimori as president for an unprecedented third term. (5/29/00)
Alejandro Toledo speaks about his run for the Peruvian presidency. (5/5/00)
Questions of corruption surround Peru's presidential race (4/13/000