Elena Conterno proposes solutions to the crisis: “Democrats must face government attacks”

Peru is in the midst of a serious political crisis. The social outbreak has exploded in the face of the rulers who continue to find no way out, while the weariness in the streets continues. At a time like this, the authorities are expected to assume their role in order to bring order. But what solutions are envisioned in this social crisis?

Elena Conterno, former Minister of Production and head of IPAE, points out that the recent order of irremovability issued by President Pedro Castillo is another step in a systematic attack on democracy and the proper functioning of the State.

Faced with this situation, he sees it as a way out that an agreement is reached between the Democrats from different political stores. He argues that it is they who must regain leadership to face these attacks that we are seeing from the government and also inadequate behavior of several seats in Congress.

“There are committed democrats from different parties, so it is important to articulate and look not only at an orderly and democratic transition, but also to have a better medium term, with real political reform that allows us to think about viable development,” he said.

He affirms that in defense of democracy, the head of state should not remain in the presidency. “From there we can make the simile with those families who have an aggressor, a person who is violating them. Everyone is on permanent alert, under threat, that is what we are experiencing, constant violence, threats, against democracy, against the proper functioning of the State and also with serious signs of corruption. So it's important to recognize that this is unsustainable,” he says.

For Conterno, in this process it is key to have political reform and then to see when new elections are called. Because just as we can't have a market without companies, we can't have democracy without real political parties, he says. And he believes that what we have now is shells, with people who have no greater commitment to political parties, without a clear ideology, and where there is no accountability, transparency, internal democracy, among other key elements.

This whole situation, he explains, means that we do not have parties that should be a foundation of democracy and the development of the country.

“As long as we don't have political reform and strong political parties, democracy will remain fragile. If we do not have that element, we will not be able to consistently advance the progress of the country and therefore of the citizens,” he said.

CIVIL SOCIETY

Elena Conterno maintains that as citizens, we must all be involved in the context we live in. Along these lines, he welcomed the fact that there had been a large march in rejection of Pedro Castillo's government. “We saw an indignant citizen taking to the streets, asking that not only be the immobilization lifted, but in general that Mr. Castillo take a step aside,” he says.

However, he believes that registered cases of vandalism should not be ignored and points out that criminals should be investigated and punished.

In this regard, he emphasizes that universities, NGOs and unions must be energetic so that they can, despite the difficulties we face, achieve this political reform and have a better scenario for the progress of Peruvians.

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