SECOND GOVERNMENT OF ALAN GARCÍA PÉREZ: CHARACTERISTICS, WORKS - HISTORY - 2024

The s econd government of Alan Garcia in Peru was developed between 2006 and 2011. In the elections was a candidate of the Aprista Peruano Party, in the second round to face Ollanta Humala, of the Union for Peru. Garcia achieved victory by obtaining 52.625%.

Alan García had held the presidency almost 20 years earlier, between 1985 and 1990. His first government, apart from accusations of corruption, had bad economic results and was not able to end the terrorism that, at that time, the country suffered.

Alan García Pérez - Source: Fusionurbana

During his second term, Alan García changed the economic orientation regarding his first experience. Thus, it gave priority to foreign investment and introduced Peru into several free trade agreements. Their actions, despite the improvement in macroeconomic data, were criticized for not reducing poverty enough.

On the other hand, the García government launched 130 thousand public works throughout the national territory. However, it also had to face some corruption scandals. The former president began to be investigated by the justice, without, so far, the investigation having been completed.

characteristics

Alan García returned to the presidency of the Peruvian government on July 28, 2006, after defeating UPP candidate Ollanta Humala in the second round of the elections. The politician had already held that position during the period between 1985 and 1990, with a management characterized by the serious economic crisis and terrorism.

When Alberto Fujimori gave his self-coup, García went into exile in Colombia, where he remained until the return of democracy in 2001. That same year, he stood in the presidential elections for the Aprista Party, although he was defeated by Alejandro Toledo.

After proclaiming himself the winner in the 2006 elections, Alan García developed a policy with characteristics quite different from those of his first term. However, as also happened on the first occasion, accusations of corruption clouded his management.

Economic aspect

Alan García tried not to repeat the mistakes made during his first term. To do this, he decided to pursue a policy of continuity with the one developed during the government of Alejandro Toledo, although, in theory, more social.

The economic policy of his second government was characterized by creating a framework that favored foreign investment. Likewise, it accelerated the country's integration into world markets.

The result was very positive in terms of macroeconomic figures. Exports increased notably and the country benefited from the high prices of minerals.

The Gross Domestic Domestic Product grew remarkably, as did the International Reserves. Another positive aspect was that Peru was not too affected by the global crisis.

The main negative aspect was that these good figures did not serve to reduce the economic gap between rich and poor, one of the highest in all of Latin America.

Education

In order to improve education, the government of Alan García created the National Program for the Recovery of Emblematic and Centennial Public Educational Institutions.

Within that plan was the improvement in infrastructure of 41 schools throughout the country. Despite his good intentions, at the end of his term many works were still unfinished.

Social conflicts

Social protests characterized this governmental period, especially in the localities affected by mining projects.

The most serious event, with a bloody result, was the so-called Baguazo. It occurred on June 5, 2009, when the Minister of the Interior ordered the police to regain control of the roads taken by the Amazonian Indians in the Bagua region.

The reason for this protest was the special decrees that regulated the exploitation of their lands. The police intervention ended with the death of 34 indigenous people and 24 agents.

Later, in late 2011, major protests broke out in Puno. Alan García could not put an end to them until the end of his government. The seizure of the Juliaca Airport, the most violent event during those protests, resulted in 4 deaths.

2007 earthquake

In August 2007, the Peruvian government had to face a great natural catastrophe. An earthquake devastated several regions of the country, with special incidence in Pisco. There were more than 500 deaths, in addition to a great destruction of infrastructure.

Alan García approved a series of measures to help the victims and to recover everything that had been destroyed.

Thus, it approved the creation of the Comprehensive Reconstruction Fund for the areas affected by the earthquakes of August 15, 2007, which declared the rehabilitation and reconstruction of homes and other affected infrastructures of national interest.

However, the implementation of the Plan was full of failures. In addition, there were many cases of corruption. Although the State reported positively on the progress of the Plan, the population showed their dissatisfaction with how the situation was being managed.

Citizen security

Another characteristic of Alan García's second term was his limited success in reducing insecurity in the country. Statistics showed that 72% of the citizens in Lima did not feel safe and up to 43% had been the victim of a crime.

Narcoindultos Case

One of the most controversial initiatives carried out during this period was the policy of reducing the prison population. To do so, pardons and commutation of sentences were granted. It was a question, in principle, of ending overcrowding in prisons.

However, in April 2013, journalistic reports appeared on the irregularities committed during that process. Many of the pardons or commutations were given to known drug traffickers, after the payment of bribes.

The «petroaudios»

Other cases of corruption had come to light in October 2008. The “petroaudios” scandal implicated an executive of Petro Peru and a former Aprista minister, Rómulo León Alegría.

The television broadcast a series of recorded conversations revealing the payment of bribes to favor a Norwegian company, Discover Petroleum.

Plays

Alan García launched an ambitious public works plan throughout the Peruvian territory. This, in addition to the improvement of infrastructures, favored the recovery of employment after the government of Alejandro Toledo.

Public Works

During this period, more than 130 thousand works were made throughout the country. Among the most important, the construction of the Children's Hospital stands out, as well as the remodeling of some schools. Likewise, the National Theater began to be built.

As for other infrastructures, the most important were the construction of the metropolitan and the restart of works for the electric train.

In total, the second government of Alan García ordered the construction of 12 Essalud hospitals and 11,251 km of roads were built (or rehabilitated).

The TLC

Although there was some opposition among some leftist groups, Peru's integration into various free trade agreements is often viewed as positive by experts.

In addition to the FTA with the US, others were also signed with China, Canada, Singapore, the EFTA (Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway), Thailand, South Korea, Mexico and the European Union.

Reconstruction of Pisco

In the least positive aspect, the slow pace of the reconstruction of the city most affected by the 2007 earthquake, Pisco, stands out.

Part of the program was delayed for years, even though the funds were released by Congress.

References

1. Trade. The good, the bad and the ugly of the second government of Alan García. Obtained from file.elcomercio.pe
2. Ortiz de Zárate, Roberto. Alan García Pérez. Retrieved from cidob.org
3. Time. The investigation that has former President Alan García on the ropes. Obtained from eltiempo.com
4. Hollar, Sherman. Alan Garcia. Retrieved from britannica.com
5. Global Security. The Garcia Government. Retrieved from globalsecurity.org
6. Crabtree, John. Alan Garcia's Second Coming. Obtained from livinginperu.com
7. Human Right Watch. Alan Garcia's Second Chance: Human Rights Accountability in Peru. Recovered from hrw.org
8. Crabtree, John. Alan García and Peru: a tale of two eras. Retrieved from opendemocracy.net