Peru’s New Prime Minister Laid Out His Plan to a Congress That Cannot Vote Him Out

Peru's newly appointed Prime Minister, Luis Galarreta, recently laid out his ambitious government plan to the newly restructured Congress. This is the first time in a decade that he has been able to present his policy agenda without the fear of a confidence vote. The new Article 130 of Peru's constitution allows for the presentation of general government policy without the risk of losing confidence.

The programme focuses on enhancing citizen security, with an emphasis on increasing police presence and prison capacity, as well as a potential overhaul of the country's tax system.

A key element of the plan is the proposal to designate transnational criminal organizations as "hostile groups," a move that would grant the armed forces expanded powers in policing tasks. This decision, made by Defence Minister Rafael Belaunde, has sparked debate and concerns about the implications for judicial oversight. The government has also proposed simplifying the regime for small businesses and modernizing customs rules, although it has not provided specific figures for the tax exemptions that could result from these reforms.

The new Congress has shown little appetite for criticizing the government's proposals, despite pressing questions about the government's handling of security issues and the retention of former administration officials. Deputy Rossana Alayza noted that the government is asking for leniency after just twenty days in office, while Mirtha Vásquez highlighted the party's past record in security matters.

As the country awaits the implementation of these policies, the focus will be on whether the proposed powers for the armed forces will come with appropriate judicial oversight, and how effectively the government will address the economic challenges facing the nation.