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The politics of the Republic of Peru takes place in a framework of a unitary semi-presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Peru is both head of state and head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the President and the Government. Legislative power is vested in both the Government and the Congress. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. Due to its ability to remove presidents without cause and its protection from judicial oversight, congress holds most political control of institution functions. By 2026 following years of political conflict, Peru has been described as one of the most politically unstable nations in Latin America.

Peru has a historically unstable political history with dictatorships, coups, military meddling in politics, and internal conflict. Peru transitioned to democracy in 1980 before backsliding with Alberto Fujimori's regime (1990–2000) before transitioning to democracy again in 2000. While democratic institutions have improved since 2000, Peruvian politics is characterized by political instability and dissatisfaction with the political system.

The historian Antonio Zapata describes Peru as a "right-wing country"; the only left-wing government in contemporary history until the election of Pedro Castillo in 2021 was that of Juan Velasco Alvarado (1968-1975), author of an agrarian reform and the nationalization of strategic sectors. Peru is also one of the most socially conservative nations in Latin America.

Currently, almost all major media and political parties in the country are in favour of economic liberalism.

History

The weakness of political parties in Peruvian politics has been recognized throughout the nation's history, with competing leaders fighting for power following the collapse of the Spanish Empire's Viceroyalty of Peru. This oligarchy was supported by the Catholic Church, which would ignore inequalities in Peru and instead assist governments with appeasing the impoverished majority. In 1928, the Peruvian Socialist Party was founded, notably under the leadership of José Carlos Mariátegui, himself a spectator of the European socialist movements who maintained relationships with the Communist Party of Italy, including the leadership of Palmiro Togliatti and Antonio Gramsci. Shortly afterwards in 1929, the party created the General Confederation of Workers. Following the assassination of President Luis Miguel Sánchez Cerro in 1933 by an Aprista, APRA was persecuted in Peru. Persecution of APRA persisted until about 1956 when it became allied with the elite in Peru.

Belaúnde was overthrown by General Juan Velasco Alvarado in 1968, who implemented Belaúnde's policies in his own unique manner. Peruvians shifted their support for authoritarian leader Alberto Fujimori, who was supported by the military following his win in the 1990 Peruvian general election. Fujimori's civil-military government established sentiments in Peru that politics were slower than brute military force while governing. On 7 December 2022, the congress removed President Castillo from office. He was replaced by Vice President Dina Boluarte, the country's first female president. On 10 October 2025, Peru’s congress removed President Dina Boluarte from office and Jose Jeri was sworn in as Peru’s interim president. On 17 February 2026, Peru's Congress ousted interim President José Jerí after four months in office, making him the third consecutive president to be ousted. On 18 February 2026, Peru's Congress elected José María Balcázar as interim President, making him the eighth president to lead Peru since 2016.

Allegations of corruption in politics

Exceptionally many Presidents of Peru have been ousted from office or imprisoned on allegations of corruption over the past three decades. Alberto Fujimori is serving a 25-year sentence in prison for commanding death squads that killed civilians in a counterinsurgency campaign during his tenure (1990-2000). He was later also found guilty of corruption. Former president Alan García (1985-1990 and 2006–2011) committed suicide in April 2019 when Peruvian police arrived to arrest him over allegations he participated in Odebrecht bribery scheme. Former president Alejandro Toledo is accused of allegedly receiving bribe from Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht during his government (2001-2006). Former president Ollanta Humala (2011-2016) is also under investigation for allegedly receiving bribe from Odebrecht during his presidential election campaign. Humala's successor Pedro Pablo Kuczynski (2016-2018) remains under house arrest while prosecutors investigate him for favoring contracts with Odebrecht. Former president Martín Vizcarra (2018-2020) was ousted by Congress after media reports alleged he had received bribes while he was a regional governor years earlier.

Executive branch

thumb|[[Government Palace of Peru.]]

|President

|José Jerí

|Independent

|10 October 2025

|-

|First Vice President

|Vacant

|

|7 December 2022

|-

|Second Vice President

|Vacant

|

|7 May 2020

|-

|Prime Minister

|Gustavo Adrianzén

|Independent

|6 March 2024

|}

Under the current constitution, the president is the head of state and government. The president is elected for a five-year term and may not immediately be re-elected. All citizens above the age of eighteen are entitled and in fact compelled to vote. The first and second vice presidents also are popularly elected but have no constitutional functions unless the president is unable to discharge his duties.

The President appoints the Prime Minister (Primer Ministro) and the Council of Ministers (Consejo de Ministros, or Cabinet), which is individually and collectively responsible both to the president and the legislature. Groups promoting autonomy agreements with larger states possibly existed since the Inca Empire and such sentiments of independence have continued among local communities to current times.

International policy

Peru or Peruvian organizations participate in the following international organizations:

  • Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
  • Andean Community of Nations (CAN)
  • Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
  • Group of Fifteen (G-15)
  • Group of Twenty-Four (G-24)
  • Group of 77 (G-77)
  • Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)
  • International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
  • International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD, part of the World Bank Group)
  • International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
  • International Criminal Court (ICC)
  • International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
  • International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU)
  • International Red Cross
  • International Development Association (IDA)
  • International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
  • International Finance Corporation (IFC)
  • International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS)
  • International Hydrographic Organization (IHO)
  • International Labour Organization (ILO)
  • International Monetary Fund, (IMF)
  • International Maritime Organization (IMO)
  • Interpol
  • IOC
  • International Organization for Migration (IOM)
  • International Organization for Standardization (ISO) (correspondent)
  • International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
  • Latin American Economic System (LAES)
  • Latin American Integration Association (LAIA)
  • United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC)
  • Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)
  • OAS
  • Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (OPANAL)
  • Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
  • Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)
  • Rio Group (RG)
  • Union of South American Nations(Unasul-Unasur)
  • United Nations
  • United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
  • United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
  • UNHRC United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)
  • United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
  • United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE)
  • United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL)
  • Universal Postal Union (UPU)
  • World Confederation of Labour (WCL)
  • World Customs Organization (WCO)
  • World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU)
  • World Health Organization (WHO)
  • World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
  • World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
  • World Tourism Organization (WToO)
  • World Trade Organization (WTrO)

See also

  • Censorship in Peru
  • Government of Peru
  • Neoliberalism in Peru

Notes

References

  • Congress of Peru
  • Prime minister of Peru
  • Presidency of Peru
  • Supreme Court of Peru
  • Center for Reproductive Rights Report (PDF format)
  • Council on Foreign Relations: Peru's Elections
  • Local governments in Peru
  • Peru's 2006 Elections