A Times Editorial

Peru's leader affronts democracy

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 24, 2000

Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori likes to win elections, but that's where his appreciation for democracy ends. He was first elected 10 years ago on a promise to end hyperinflation and defeat an entrenched guerrilla movement. He succeeded -- but only after shutting down Peru's Congress, muzzling the press, outlawing opposition parties and trashing Peru's existing constitution.

Now Fujimori is running for re-election, and it was widely assumed that his control of the media, the courts, the electoral machinery and every other element of power would ensure his victory. However, Fujimori and his supporters were taken by surprise when Alejandro Toledo, an American-educated populist who was raised in poverty, began galvanizing crowds in the days leading up to the April primary elections.

Representatives of the Carter Center, the Organization of American States and other outside observers say the April vote count was riddled with fraud. Toledo led in independent exit polls, but as the tabulations dragged on for days, Fujimori looked prepared to claim an outright victory. Only after intense international pressure did the official count leave Fujimori just short of an absolute majority.

The Fujimori-Toledo runoff was scheduled for May 28, but observers from the OAS, which has taken the lead in monitoring the election, say Fujimori has refused to take the steps necessary to ensure that the vote count will be free and fair. Toledo declared this week he will not participate in the vote, but Fujimori is prepared to proceed with the sham of an election. Only international pressure can prevent what could turn out to be a final assault on Peruvian democracy.

The OAS is doing what it can to shame Fujimori, but the regional alliance doesn't have the clout to prevent his power play. Only member governments -- beginning with the United States -- are capable of that kind of influence. This crisis of democratic government has repercussions beyond Peru's borders. Many of the new democracies of Central and South America are susceptible to autocrats such as Fujimori, who use the trappings of democracy to legitimize their monopolies on the institutions of power. Washington should quickly put Fujimori on notice that normal relations with his government will cease if he follows through on his scheme to claim another term in office through fraudulent means.

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