Peru First

Peru First (Spanish: Perú Primero), officially the Peru First Political Party, is a Peruvian political party founded on 3 December 2021 by Martín Vizcarra, who had served as President of Peru from 2018 to 2020.^[1] The party espouses an ideology rooted in humanist and democratic principles, emphasizing ethics, popular sovereignty, individual freedoms, independence from extremism, and transparent governance to address Peru's entrenched social, political, and economic challenges.^[2] Its foundational assembly, presided over by Vizcarra, approved statutes, electoral regulations, and elected a national executive committee, marking the inception of efforts to promote a "first-world" Peru governed by rule of law and human dignity.^[1] In preparation for the 2026 general elections, Peru First has nominated engineer Mario Vizcarra Cornejo—Martín Vizcarra's brother—for the presidency and the disqualified former president for first vice presidency, alongside Judith Mendoza León for second vice presidency, though Martín Vizcarra's candidacy faces legal barriers due to multiple 10-year disqualifications from public office stemming from congressional findings of moral incapacity and constitutional violations during his tenure.^[3][4] This strategy has drawn criticism for potentially exploiting legal ambiguities, including pending Inter-American Court of Human Rights measures, amid the party's limited prior electoral footprint and Vizcarra's history of impeachment-related controversies.^[5]

History

Founding and early organization (2021)

Perú Primero was publicly presented as a new political organization on November 8, 2021, by former President Martín Vizcarra Cornejo during an event in Lima, marking its emergence as a vehicle for his continued political ambitions following his departure from the Somos Perú party.^[6][7] Vizcarra, who had secured the highest number of votes for Congress in the April 2021 general elections under Somos Perú—receiving over 1.1 million preferences—had been prevented from assuming office by a congressional decision citing prior impeachment proceedings and ongoing investigations into alleged corruption during his presidency.^[6] This context of institutional conflict propelled the formation of Perú Primero as a platform independent of established parties, with Vizcarra positioning it to challenge perceived legislative overreach and advocate for governance reforms. Initial organizational efforts centered on building a national structure to meet the Jurado Nacional de Elecciones (JNE) requirements for formal party inscription, including affiliating at least 4% of the national electorate across regions as mandated by Peruvian electoral law.^[8] Key early figures included Carlos Mantegazza Ancaya, a former regional prefect of Arequipa, who joined Vizcarra in the launch activities, signaling an intent to draw from regional political experience.^[9] The group established its headquarters in the San Isidro district of Lima, focusing on rapid membership drives and internal statutes that emphasized humanist and democratic principles to address social and economic challenges, though specific programmatic details remained nascent at this stage.^[6] By late 2021, Perú Primero had begun preliminary outreach to consolidate support among Vizcarra's base, which stemmed from his 2018–2020 presidency marked by anti-corruption drives and constitutional confrontations with Congress, including the 2019 dissolution of the legislative body.^[7] The organization's early rhetoric highlighted "putting Peru first" through institutional modernization and rejection of traditional party elites, amid a fragmented political landscape post-2021 elections that saw no absolute congressional majority.^[6] However, Vizcarra's lingering legal disqualifications posed immediate hurdles, as JNE rules barred individuals under investigation from leadership roles, foreshadowing delays in full inscription that extended beyond 2021.^[8]

Post-founding activities and internal developments (2021–2023)

Following its formal constitution on December 3, 2021, Perú Primero prioritized organizational consolidation and fulfillment of legal prerequisites for national party registration, including the collection of voter signatures equivalent to at least 0.5% of the electorate from four or more regions as mandated by Peruvian electoral law.^[10] The party, spearheaded by former President Martín Vizcarra, conducted outreach efforts to build a territorial presence, focusing on regional committees and militant recruitment amid Peru's fragmented political landscape.^[11] These activities remained low-profile, as the nascent group navigated bureaucratic hurdles without participating in the 2021 general elections due to its recent formation.^[10] A significant internal challenge emerged in 2023 concerning leadership eligibility. On June 18, 2023, the National Jury of Elections (JNE) ruled that Vizcarra was barred from serving as founder, president, or even a formal member of Perú Primero, citing his 10-year political disqualification stemming from prior congressional sanctions related to influence peddling allegations.^[12] Despite this, the JNE permitted Vizcarra to engage in proselitizing activities on behalf of the party and allowed the registration process to proceed under alternative leadership structures.^[12] These efforts culminated in official inscription as a national political party on June 19, 2023, enabling future electoral participation.^[13] Throughout 2022 and early 2023, amid widespread protests against President Pedro Castillo's ouster and Dina Boluarte's ascension, Perú Primero maintained a subdued public stance, concentrating resources on internal fortification rather than direct mobilization, consistent with its pre-registration status.^[10] No major schisms or expulsions were reported during this period, though the party's dependence on Vizcarra's personal influence underscored vulnerabilities tied to his legal constraints.^[12]

Preparations for 2026 elections and recent challenges (2024–present)

In early 2025, Perú Primero focused on internal organizational efforts to comply with electoral requirements for the 2026 general elections, set for April 12, 2026, including affiliation drives and leadership structuring to secure inscription status with the National Jury of Elections (JNE). By mid-2025, the party positioned itself among the approximately 43 habilitated political groups eligible to participate, emphasizing humanistic and democratic principles in its platform to attract voters disillusioned with established parties.^[14][15] A key preparatory step occurred on October 27, 2025, when Perú Primero inscribed its provisional presidential formula ahead of internal primaries: Mario Vizcarra Cornejo, brother of the party's founder, as presidential precandidate; Martín Vizcarra Cornejo as first vice-presidential precandidate; and Judith Mendoza as second vice-presidential precandidate.^[3][4] This move, provisionally admitted by the JNE on October 24, 2025, aims to leverage familial ties and Vizcarra's name recognition, though it relies on potential legal challenges to his disqualifications via the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.^[16] Recent challenges have centered on founder Martín Vizcarra's legal entanglements, which threaten the party's viability. On August 13, 2025, the Seventh Preparatory Investigation Court ordered five months of preventive imprisonment against Vizcarra for alleged bribery involving US$1.3 million in contracts with the company Obrainsa during his vice presidency, leading to his detention in Barbadillo prison.^[17][18] The Third Criminal Appeal Chamber revoked this on September 3, 2025, resulting in his release after 20 days, citing insufficient evidence of flight risk or obstruction.^[19][20] Vizcarra faces three separate 10-year inhabilitations for corruption-related offenses, including irregular hiring of singer Richard Swing and hospital infrastructure irregularities, rendering him constitutionally ineligible for office unless overturned.^[4][21] These proceedings have strained party momentum, with analysts describing Vizcarra's legal status as a strategic vulnerability that could invite JNE scrutiny or voter skepticism, potentially forcing reliance on proxies like his brother.^[22] Despite this, party statements highlight resilience through unity and adaptation to regulatory hurdles, such as JNE observations on internal processes in early 2025.^[23] The broader political context, including low public trust in institutions amid Peru's ongoing instability, amplifies these risks for smaller parties like Perú Primero.^[24]

Ideology and political positions

Core principles and platform

Perú Primero's ideology is grounded in humanist and democratic principles, aimed at resolving Peru's social, political, and economic challenges through citizen-driven initiatives, patriotism, and public service.^[15][25] The party positions the family as the foundational unit of society, emphasizing the protection of human rights and life within this framework, while upholding the rule of law as essential for national stability.^[25] Key fundamental principles include ethical governance focused on human dignity; democratic sovereignty with active citizen participation; individual freedoms guided by personal values and rational decision-making; ideological independence from extremism; and transparency in financial operations to ensure accountability.^[25] These principles reject deviations that could undermine the party's core commitments, with mechanisms for dissolution if significant portions of leadership stray from them.^[25] The party's platform advocates for a social market economy that facilitates property ownership, reduces inequality, and supports small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through education, scientific advancement, and technological innovation.^[25] It promotes decentralization to empower regional governance, gender equality in opportunities, targeted social assistance for vulnerable populations, and strengthened security and justice systems to foster a just society.^[25] Overall, the objectives center on constructing a prosperous, equitable Peru where all citizens access rights and opportunities equally.^[15][25]

Economic and social policies

Perú Primero espouses economic policies rooted in humanist and democratic principles aimed at resolving Peru's longstanding economic challenges, including inequality and underdevelopment. The party prioritizes transparency in public financial management and funding mechanisms to foster accountability and efficient resource allocation. Its vision centers on constructing a prosperous nation where economic opportunities are accessible to all, though detailed mechanisms such as tax reforms, investment incentives, or monetary strategies remain unspecified in official declarations as of the party's statutes approved on December 20, 2022.^[26][2] Social policies under Perú Primero emphasize the family as the core unit of society, underscoring its role in social stability and moral foundation. The party commits to safeguarding human dignity, rights, and the protection of life from conception, rejecting any form of extremist or totalitarian ideologies that undermine individual freedoms. This framework seeks to cultivate a just society through institutional respect, sovereignty, and equitable access to basic rights, with a focus on democratic participation to address social fragmentation.^[2]

Foreign policy and governance views

Perú Primero advocates for a governance model rooted in representative democracy, decentralization, and strict adherence to the rule of law, emphasizing transparency in public administration and financial management to combat corruption. The party positions the family as the foundational social unit, promoting policies that protect human dignity and equal opportunities for all citizens, including targeted support for women, youth, and indigenous communities. It calls for balanced separation of powers, enabling citizens to elect, oversee, and hold accountable their leaders, while rejecting extremist or totalitarian ideologies in favor of ethical governance guided by humanist principles.^[2][25] In terms of internal reforms, the party supports investments in education, science, technology, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to foster economic development and social equity, alongside strengthening security and justice systems to ensure institutional integrity. Drawing from founder Martín Vizcarra's presidential tenure (2018–2020), where he pursued anti-corruption measures including judicial and political reforms, Perú Primero continues to frame governance as a service-oriented endeavor prioritizing national prosperity over partisan interests.^[25][27] On foreign policy, Perú Primero envisions Peru's integration into the global community while safeguarding national sovereignty and supporting Peruvian expatriates abroad, aligning with a "Peru first" prioritization of domestic interests. During Vizcarra's administration, this translated to a policy framework based on peace, regional integration, and promotion of democracy, including active participation in multilateral efforts like the Lima Group to address authoritarianism in Latin America, such as opposition to Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro regime. The party rejects ideological extremism internationally, mirroring its domestic independence principle, and seeks equitable global partnerships that advance Peru's development without compromising autonomy.^{[2][25][27][28]}

Leadership and organization

Key figures and leadership structure

Martín Vizcarra, who served as President of Peru from September 2018 to November 2020, founded Perú Primero in 2021 as a vehicle for his political return following his removal from office by Congress. He functions as the party's de facto leader, directing its strategic direction and public activities, despite facing multiple legal disqualifications from public office that have prompted reliance on family members for electoral candidacies.^[3][29] The party's organizational framework, as defined in its 2025 statutes, establishes a hierarchical structure centered on democratic internal processes. The Congreso Nacional constitutes the supreme deliberative authority, convening every four years to amend statutes, approve the party platform, and elect core leaders including the Presidente del Partido and members of the Comité Ejecutivo Nacional (CEN); it requires a quorum of half plus one delegates for decisions, resolved by simple majority vote.^[25] The Presidente del Partido, elected for a renewable four-year term, presides over the CEN—the party's permanent executive body responsible for day-to-day operations, policy execution, alliance proposals, and coordination with regional structures—and the Comisión Política Nacional, which vets electoral pacts and candidate slates. The Secretaría General, the second-in-command role also elected for four years, assumes CEN leadership in the president's absence, oversees international relations, and supervises specialized national secretariats covering organization, finance, and governance planning. Supporting bodies include the Tribunal Electoral Nacional Autónomo for internal voting oversight and the Tribunal Nacional de Disciplina y Ética for enforcing member conduct.^[25] In preparation for the 2026 general elections, Perú Primero's Comisión Política Nacional inscribed a ticket on October 27, 2025, nominating Mario Vizcarra—Martín's brother and a lesser-known political figure—as presidential precandidate, with Martín Vizcarra slotted for first vice presidency and Judith Mendoza Díaz for second, signaling a strategy to navigate the founder's disqualifications through familial proxies while maintaining his influence. César Figueredo serves as the CEN's Secretaría General, handling administrative designations such as provincial secretaries.^[21][30]

Membership and internal dynamics

Perú Primero requires prospective members to be Peruvian citizens exercising their fundamental rights, accepting the party's statutes and principles through a foundational act, committee integration, or submission of an affiliation form to the party's national headquarters in Lima.^[31][25] As of September 8, 2025, the party reported 87,481 registered affiliates according to the Jurado Nacional de Elecciones' official padrón.^[32] Membership is voluntary and decentralized, with regional, provincial, and district committees maintaining local rolls managed by the Secretaría Nacional de Organización y Movilización.^[25] The party's internal structure is hierarchical, with the Congreso Nacional as the supreme deliberative body, convening every four years or extraordinarily as needed, comprising the president, national executive committee members, regional leaders, and delegates elected by affiliates.^[25] Supporting organs include the Comisión Política Nacional for ongoing deliberation and the Comité Ejecutivo Nacional, led by the party president—currently Martín Vizcarra, the party's founder—for executive functions.^[25] Leadership roles, such as the president and secretaría general, are elected for four-year terms with a two-term limit, emphasizing humanist and democratic principles in oversight.^[25] Subnational committees mirror this structure to facilitate regional organization.^[25] Decision-making occurs via majority simple vote in assemblies and the Congreso Nacional, requiring a quorum of half plus one attendees, while alliances, fusions, or dissolution demand two-thirds approval from the Comisión Política Nacional.^[25] Candidate selection for elections, including the 2026 generals, follows a delegate-based system rather than universal affiliate voting, aligning with practices of most Peruvian parties.^[33] Internal disputes are adjudicated by the Tribunal Nacional de Disciplina y Ética, with appeals to the Congreso Nacional; for instance, in February 2025, former national secretary William Prado announced plans to denounce the party over alleged irregularities, highlighting occasional tensions in affiliate management.^[25][34] The party's dynamics remain centered on Vizcarra's influence, as evidenced by its September 2025 inscription of his brother Mario Vizcarra as presidential candidate despite Martín's legal inhabilitations.^[35] Regional consolidation efforts, such as in Ayacucho, underscore ongoing mobilization without reported major factions.^[36]

Electoral participation and performance

Absence from 2021 general elections

Perú Primero did not field candidates in the Peruvian general elections of April 11, 2021, which elected the president, vice presidents, and 130 members of Congress for the 2021–2026 term. The party had not yet been established at the time, with its public launch occurring on November 8, 2021, by former President Martín Vizcarra, who had been ousted from office in November 2020 amid corruption investigations and congressional impeachment proceedings.^[37] Vizcarra cited the need for a new political vehicle to advance his agenda of governance reform and anti-corruption measures, drawing from his presidential slogan "El Perú Primero."^[38] The absence stemmed from timing constraints under Peru's electoral regulations, which require parties to be registered with the National Jury of Elections (JNE) well in advance of deadlines—typically by the prior year—to collect signatures and nominate candidates.^[39] Perú Primero's formal inscription with the JNE was not completed until June 19, 2023, after verifying over 86,000 affidavits of support.^[40] Prior to forming the party, Vizcarra had aligned with Somos Perú for the 2021 vote, registering as a congressional candidate in January 2021, but his candidacy was rejected in February by the JNE due to a 10-year ban imposed by Congress for alleged influence peddling in legislative approvals. This disqualification, upheld despite appeals, precluded his direct involvement and highlighted the post-election origins of Perú Primero as a response to such institutional barriers.^[39]

Regional and local engagements

Perú Primero, established in 2021, has prioritized subnational electoral participation ahead of the 2026 regional and municipal elections, representing its primary foray into local governance contests after forgoing the 2021 national vote. The party reported 87,481 affiliates as of September 8, 2025, providing a base for regional mobilization.^[32] Campaign activities commenced in October 2025, including a provincial gathering in Pasco to rally support and outline strategies one year before the polls. In Moquegua, the party's National Autonomous Electoral Tribunal designated Grethel Callo and Milar Zenteno to head its candidate slates for regional council and municipal positions on October 27, 2025. For governorships, Perú Primero nominated José Martín Arévalo Pinedo in Loreto, a former mayor of San Juan Bautista district who underwent nine months of preventive detention in 2019 on charges of passive bribery for accepting S/15,000 to favor a contractor, with proceedings still pending.^[41] The party's regional candidates often feature individuals with prior political experience, including some facing unresolved corruption-related investigations, such as collusion in public contracts.^[41] This approach underscores efforts to leverage local networks amid Peru's fragmented subnational political landscape.

Prospects for 2026 national elections

Perú Primero announced its intention to contest the 2026 general elections, registering a presidential ticket on October 27, 2025, led by Mario Vizcarra Cornejo for the presidency, his brother former President Martín Vizcarra Cornejo for first vice presidency, and Judith Mendoza for second vice presidency.^[3][4] The party's internal selection process will use a delegate-based primary system rather than direct member voting, as approved by the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) for 37 organizations, including Perú Primero.^[42] However, Martín Vizcarra's inclusion faces legal barriers, as he holds three 10-year disqualifications from public office stemming from congressional sanctions related to ethical breaches and influence peddling allegations during his 2018–2020 presidency.^[3][16] The Jurado Nacional de Elecciones (JNE) president, Roberto Burneo, declared Vizcarra's vice-presidential candidacy "inviable" under Peruvian electoral law, which prohibits disqualified individuals from running for any executive position, and urged the party to replace him promptly to avoid rejection during validation.^[5] Legal experts and critics, including constitutional lawyer Alejandro Rospigliosi, have labeled the maneuver a potential "political deception" and abuse of electoral rules, exploiting a loophole in pre-candidacy registration before formal scrutiny.^[4][43] This controversy underscores the party's reliance on Vizcarra's name recognition despite his legal impediments, potentially alienating voters amid Peru's fragmented political landscape marked by high distrust—49% of Peruvians express intent to support none of the announced precandidates, per a October 2025 survey.^[24] Perú Primero registers negligible support in national polls for 2026, absent from top contenders in surveys by Ipsos and CPI, where figures like Rafael López Aliaga, Keiko Fujimori, and Carlos Álvarez lead with 10–15% intentions amid widespread indecision.^[44][45] The party's limited organizational footprint, evidenced by its non-participation in the 2021 generals and focus on regional efforts, hampers national viability; it lacks the alliances or infrastructure of established groups, facing a first-round threshold requiring over 50% or a runoff in a field of 20+ parties.^[46] Analysts view its prospects as marginal, constrained by Vizcarra's baggage— including vacancy of his presidency and subsequent scandals— and Peru's economic volatility, with growth projections at 2.5–3% for 2026 insufficient to bolster unproven platforms.^[47] Success would demand rapid candidate pivots, voter mobilization in Vizcarra's Moquegua base, and distancing from perceptions of dynastic opportunism, though current trajectories suggest under 5% national vote share.

Controversies and criticisms

Martín Vizcarra's legal and political scandals

Martín Vizcarra, leader of the Perú Primero party founded in 2021, faced impeachment by Peru's Congress on November 9, 2020, over allegations of corruption and influence peddling, marking the second such attempt during his presidency from 2018 to 2020.^[48][49] The vote passed with 105 of 130 lawmakers citing "permanent moral incapacity" under Article 113 of the Peruvian Constitution, primarily based on leaked audio recordings and testimonies alleging bribery during his tenure as governor of Moquegua (2011–2014) and as Minister of Transport and Communications.^[50][51] Vizcarra denied the charges, framing them as politically motivated by a Congress he accused of obstructing anti-corruption reforms, though investigations revealed patterns of illicit payments from construction firms seeking public contracts.^[52] A central scandal involved Vizcarra's alleged receipt of approximately 2.3 million Peruvian soles (about $640,000 USD at the time) in bribes from companies like Andrade Gutierrez in exchange for approving hospital construction contracts in Moquegua, as detailed in plea bargain testimonies from executives implicated in the broader Lava Jato probe.^[53][54] These claims surfaced publicly in October 2020, prompting the impeachment process after an initial failed attempt in September 2020 over separate ethics violations.^[55] During his presidency, additional scrutiny arose from "Vacunagate," a 2021 revelation that Vizcarra and his family received unauthorized early access to COVID-19 vaccines through irregular channels at the Ministry of Health, leading to congressional censure and further probes into nepotism and abuse of power.^[56] In August 2025, Vizcarra's legal troubles escalated when Judge Jorge Chávez ordered five months of pre-trial detention on August 13, classifying him as a flight risk in the Moquegua bribery case, making him the fifth former Peruvian president imprisoned on corruption allegations in recent years.^[57][58] He was released on September 6, 2025, pending trial, with prosecutors arguing the bribes facilitated contracts worth millions while Vizcarra maintained his innocence, attributing the detention to judicial overreach amid Peru's politicized court system.^[59][60] These proceedings, rooted in evidence from cooperating witnesses rather than direct convictions, have cast a shadow over Perú Primero's credibility, as Vizcarra's personal liabilities underscore recurring graft patterns among Peru's elite, despite his earlier anti-corruption rhetoric that included dissolving Congress in 2019 to combat legislative obstruction.^[61][62]

Accusations of opportunism and party viability

Critics have portrayed Perú Primero as opportunistic, arguing that it functions primarily as a personal vehicle for former President Martín Vizcarra's ambitions rather than an ideologically driven entity. Founded in 2021 shortly after Vizcarra's impeachment by Congress on November 9, 2020, for alleged moral incapacity tied to influence-peddling scandals, the party has been accused of lacking substantive principles and instead prioritizing Vizcarra's rehabilitation amid his legal woes, including a 10-year disqualification from public office imposed by Congress in 2021 and reaffirmed multiple times.^{[63] [64]} Commentators, such as those in Peruvian media analyses, have highlighted the party's recruitment of defectors from other groups—such as Matías Eustaquio, who switched from the Partido Verde Ambiental Peruano in February 2025 after being denied a candidacy slot—as emblematic of pragmatic alliances over conviction, further fueling perceptions of political expediency.^[65] The party's viability has been questioned due to its overreliance on Vizcarra, who was formally disaffiliated by the Jurado Nacional de Elecciones (JNE) in June 2025 following upheld congressional sanctions that bar him from party membership and candidacy until at least 2031.^[66] Despite Perú Primero's repeated affirmations—such as in August 2025 statements ratifying Vizcarra as its "unique candidate"—legal experts and electoral observers note that this stance risks invalidation by the JNE, potentially forcing reliance on proxies like Vizcarra's brother Mario, who polled at only 7% in an October 2025 Ipsos survey amid public confusion over his distinct profile.^{[67] [68]} Allegations of irregularities, including over 5,000 potentially falsified signatures during the party's 2023 inscription process, have compounded doubts, though the JNE rejected annulment requests in June 2025, citing insufficient evidence of systemic fraud.^[69] Analysts argue that without a robust organizational base—evidenced by the party's absence from the 2021 national elections and limited regional traction—these factors undermine its prospects for the 2026 general elections, positioning it as vulnerable to dissolution or irrelevance if Vizcarra's legal appeals, including to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, fail.^[63]

Responses to Peru's broader political instability

Perú Primero has positioned itself amid Peru's ongoing political turmoil—marked by the impeachment of President Dina Boluarte on October 9, 2025, and the subsequent ascension of José Jerí to the presidency—primarily through preparations for the 2026 general elections rather than active legislative intervention, given its lack of congressional representation.^[70][71] On October 24, 2025, the party provisionally registered former President Martín Vizcarra as its candidate for first vice presidency, defying his 10-year ineligibility ruling stemming from 2021 congressional findings of ethical breaches during his tenure.^[72] This action reflects an effort to capitalize on public disillusionment with successive short-lived administrations, as polls indicate over 50% rejection of Jerí's leadership shortly after his October 10, 2025, inauguration.^[73] Vizcarra, the party's founder, has voiced critiques of elements exacerbating instability, including accusations that Jerí, as a congressman, authored reports shielding Boluarte's administration from accountability for deaths during 2022-2023 protests against her government. These protests, which intensified amid corruption scandals and security failures, underscore the broader crisis dating back to 2016, with Peru experiencing multiple impeachments, resignations, and interim leaders.^[74] Perú Primero's ideological framework, emphasizing humanist and democratic principles to tackle systemic political and economic issues, frames its electoral push as a call for stable, citizen-focused governance over the fragmented status quo.^[15] Critics argue this strategy borders on opportunism, as the party's inscription of a disqualified figure like Vizcarra—impeached in 2020 over corruption allegations—mirrors the very institutional distrust fueling instability, potentially undermining public faith in electoral remedies.^[75] Without parliamentary influence, the party's responses remain confined to symbolic gestures and future-oriented campaigning, offering limited immediate countermeasures to violence spikes, with 161 more homicides in early 2025 compared to 2024, or economic drags from leadership vacuums.^[76] This approach aligns with Vizcarra's prior governance slogan of prioritizing national interests but has yet to translate into tangible policy proposals addressing root causes like congressional overreach and executive fragility.^[62]