History Of Peru VI

It soon became clear that Fujimori’s supporters were trying to steal the election. There were unexplained delays in revealing the results, and widespread reports of voter fraud. The United States, the Organization of American States, the Atlanta-based Carter Center, and several other international organizations monitoring the election agreed that widespread fraud had tainted the elections and demanded a second presidential election between Fujimori and Toledo. Tens of thousands of Peruvians marched in peaceful protests demanding a second round. The other presidential candidates backed Toledo. Three days after the election, the electoral office said Fujimori had obtained 49.8% of the vote, not enough to capture the 50% plus one he needed to avoid a second round. Toledo was given 40.3% of the vote.

The political crisis resulting from the rigged election led to president Fujimori’s resignation and exile in Japan. A new presidential election was held in April 2001. Alejandro Toledo ended first with 36.5% of the vote, but he was forced into a runoff with former president Alan García (25.8%) who had returned to the country after Fujimori’s resignation. Toledo went on to win the runoff with 53.1% of the vote. But García’s impressive 46.9% transformed the former discredited president into a powerful actor in Peruvian politics.

Toledo became the first Peruvian of indigenous heritage to become president. Yet, his popularity and support during the first months of his administration began to fall as accusations of corruption and moral improprieties tainted his presidency. Toledo’s effort to prosecute those responsible for corruption and human rights violations during the Fujimori government also distracted him from the urgent social and economic challenges facing his country. During his tenure, Toledo has suffered from dismal approval ratings, ranging in the single digits. His personalist leadership and the lack of discipline within his political party have also hindered and hurt the process of democratic restoration in Peru.

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