Peruvian Ruling Party Wins General Elections; Opposition Challenges Results LADB Staff

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11-18-1986 Peruvian Ruling Party Wins General Elections; Opposition Challenges Results LADB Staff

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Recommended Citation LADB Staff. "Peruvian Ruling Party Wins General Elections; Opposition Challenges Results." (1986). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/notisur/178

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Latin America Digital Beat (LADB) at UNM Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in NotiSur by an authorized administrator of UNM Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. LADB Article Id: 77660 ISSN: 1060-4189 Peruvian Ruling Party Wins General Elections; Opposition Challenges Results by LADB Staff Category/Department: Peru Published: 1986-11-18

In the Nov. 9 general elections, the ruling American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (APRA) party won throughout the country, while the status of the United Left coalition as the most important political opposition party was consolidated. The political right, represented by the Popular Christian Party (PPC), captured only 25% of the municipal vote in Lima, and smaller fractions of the vote in most provinces. Aprista and United Left candidates received at least 70% of all votes cast. Both parties advocate fundamental social and economic reforms.

In the race for the mayor's office in Lima, which accounts for about a third of the Peruvian electorate, APRA party candidate, Jorge del Castillo, was elected mayor. United Left candidate, incumbent Alfonso Barrantes, came in second. Del Castillo's performance at the polls improved markedly after President Alan Garcia hosted a public rally in his behalf on Nov. 6. Garcia campaigned for Aprista candidates in several cities, which was described as decisive for his party's victory in Puno, Huancayo and Cusco, previously considered United Left strongholds.

On the evening of Nov. 9, the IU leadership released a statement questioning the validity of election results in Lima. The IU statement claimed the government had interfered in the elections, citing Garcia's public rally for Del Castillo as the most flagrant example. Unofficial estimates announced on Nov. 10, based on 75% of the votes cast, indicated that Del Castillo had won 34.9% of the votes; the United Left, 32.3%, and Luis Bedoya, leader of the rightwing PPC, 25.6%. Local observers agree that Del Castillo's victory was the result of the public rally organized by Garcia.

Until Nov. 6, the Aprista candidate was third in the polls, with Barrantes leading and Bedoya in second place. On Nov. 11 the United Left national committee announced that it will appeal to Lima's provincial electoral tribunal to declare the mayoral election results null and void. According to the IU national leadership, the Garcia administration used its access to the media and the presidential office to influence voters. On election day, Garcia reportedly announced that voting against the APRA party was tantamount to a vote against his administration.

Charges as well were brought against the APRA party daily newspaper, HOY. On election day, the paper ran a front-page story on "how to vote for" the ruling party candidate. Moreover, pro-APRA television station released voting result estimates in the party's favor four hours before polling stations closed. Several street demonstrations were reported in Lima during the three days following the elections. Demonstrators chanted slogans about "government interference."

On Nov. 12, outgoing Lima mayor Barrantes issued a call for a rally to take place Friday, Nov. 14, to protest the alleged electoral fraud by the APRA party. APRA victories were also under attack in the city of Huancayo. IU leaders claimed the ruling party bought votes by giving food to voters. In the

©2011 The University of New Mexico, Latin American & Iberian Institute All rights reserved. Page 1 of 2 LADB Article Id: 77660 ISSN: 1060-4189 southern cities of Puno and Cusco, the IU has accused APRA of several irregularities, including gifts of food and electrical appliances to buy votes, and "improper use of the ballot."

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