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Features / archives for : politics
Cleaning up house: Peru's new comptroller begins his crusade against corruption
Published in Caretas
Adapted by LivinginPeru.com
You shall not steal. Comptroller Fuad Khoury uncovers a net of corruption and promises to corner thieves in the coast, sierra and jungle.
This week the general comptroller of the Republic hit a sore spot. On Feb. 1 he revealed the first results of Operation Condor, which was a kind of Blitzkrieg operation on 27 local and regional institutions in the interior of the country. The result was alarming. “'Commissions' of 10, 15 or 20 percent have been talked about before, but we have found squandering of almost 100 percent,” explained Fuad Khoury, Peru's comptroller.
The regions under inspection were Ancash, Cajamarca, Puno and Ica. The findings of the team, composed of 120 auditors, almost seemed like a joke. For example, the project that planned to improve the Wecrococha-Pochgoj irrigation canal in the middle of nowhere, Ancash. The regional government, chaired by César Álvarez, quoted the project at 4.3 million soles, cashed checks for 3.5 million soles, but the channel was never built.
Lima's mayor leads Peru's presidential poll one year from elections
LivinginPeru.com
Presidential elections in Peru are one year away. Last week, a poll by El Comercio and Ipsos Apoyo revealed some interesting tendencies in how the public plans to vote, broken down by region, socio-economic levels (A to E, A being richest) and gender.
Luis Castañeda, Lima's quiet mayor, leads the polls, with 23 percent of the polled saying they'd vote for him if the elections were tomorrow. Keiko Fuijimori is still in second place, and is the number one choice for women voters. Ollanta Humala, the nationalist candidate, has taken in the lead in regions outside of the capital, and trails Fujimori by three percentage points on the national level.
For now, see the chart below.
President Alan García's New Year's Eve address
LivinginPeru.comHere is the the New Year's Eve address by Alan García, President of Peru. It was broadcast on Thursday, Dec. 31, 2009. (The translation is taken from Andina, Peru's official news agency.)
"Tonight we say goodbye to 2009, called the Year of National Unity against the Global Crisis, and I want to thank all Peruvians, thanks for their work, thanks for the investment, thanks for their action which allowed us to save Peru from the world's most horrible economic crisis in the last 80 years," said President Garcia.
"Thanks to the work and faith of all Peruvians, our employment has not declined, growth increased despite everything and social consumption reduced poverty. This year, the State invested 18 billion soles in works, while private companies — large and small investors — invested 60 billion soles, all that in schools, health centers, roads, electricity services, new factories, to bring better machines. All that allowed us to save Peru from the global crisis."
"Let’s thank God tonight for helping us in this work throughout 2009, but now 2010 begins and this is the Year of the Economic and Social Consolidation in Peru, because we trust deeply that this year we will recover what in 2009 we could not grow and we will recover it in full."
Interview with Mercedes Aráoz, Peru's new finance minister
By Mariella BalbiFor El Comercio
Peru's new finance minister, Mercedes Aráoz Fernández (pictured here) said that fiscal discipline will not change, but that she will promote a culture of service that is lacking today.You have assured and reassured that there will be not be electoral extravagance, but apparently people don’t believe you. What will you do?
I have a proven expertise in two ministries during three and half years, during which time I have been firm in my positions. I hope that they believe in a good economist who has demonstrated to be focused and to not succumb to any pressure.
I do not know if it's machismo, but people are still not convinced.
It seems, ah (she laughs). That a woman smiles and has a positive attitude does not mean that she is careless.
It's thought that you will be the president’s puppet.
That is nonsense. The president has always respected my position and I have had rather harsh discussions with him. I would tell him what I didn’t think was correct and why, and then we would talk. He is a good listener. And if the arguments are well supported, he accepts them. I've seen economists say that I am a serious person. Political leaders play politics and trust nothing.
Let us give Hernani some Time
Translation: Vanessa Castro Chesterton - Living in Peru
Why does the government vehemently support the minister of home affairs when he is questioned by all other political sectors?
The Pomac episode is not a mistake of the minister’s. We must try and understand that there are 500 hectares at Pomac; people who live in the big city can’t begin to comprehend the situation. That area was inhabited by 200 families spread out over the territory. It isn’t like the eviction of the Santa Anita Market.
We must all tighten our Belts Due to the Coming Financial Crisis
Translation: Vanessa Castro Chesterton - Living in Peru
Do you really think the government’s plan to face the financial crisis is deficient?
The problem is that it is not really a plan but more a list of public works which will cost 10 thousand million Soles. That is why last week we suggested 12 proposals. Prime Minister Simon and Lucho Valdivieso were kind enough to come to my house to discuss the situation. I then got the impression that the plan had not been thought through and that matters had been rushed into hastily. I would have preferred it be the Minister of Finances who presented the plan seeing as he is the one behind it all.
“We Must Not Confuse Populism with Anti-cyclical Politics”
Translation: Vanessa Castro - Living in Peru
We have had a Minister of Finances which told jokes without ever laughing and another which rarely made them. Luis Valdivieso goes from a furrowed brow to a smile every time he manages a “touché”. In this interview he responds to several of his critics and explains his plans for the year which has just begun.Hu Seeks Trade Boost to Fight Crisis
Boosting multi-lateral trading, tackling climate change and responding better to natural disasters were some of the key proposals put forward by President Hu Jintao at the APEC economic leaders' meeting on Saturday.
The Chinese president suggested a way to move forward would be for the APEC member economies to build a consensus. This would be a way to promote the development of a multilateral trading regime. The financial community should move to establish a new international financial order that is fair for all if a crisis like the one we are living at the moment is to be avoided in the future.
During the APEC Peru is on Display
Foreign Trade and Tourism Minister, Mercedes Aráoz, explains the advantage of Peru’s being a member of the APEC from an economic and entrepreneurial point of view. She also defends the convenience the Free Trade Agreement with China and her particular point of view on the Chinese democratic system.
The Free Trade Agreement with Peru Should be Ready Before January of Next Year
This visit to Peru marks President George W. Bush’s last official international summit meeting. Before leaving for Peru the President talked about the importance of free trade agreements, international relations with Latin America and the positive view he has of our country.
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Last 5 posts
- A Peruvian UN officer in Afghanistan: Reflections on overcoming terror
- The huacas of Lima, Part One: Huaca Pucllana
- Enjoying the sites, smells — and just surviving — as a pedestrian in Peru
- An expat visit home: Seeing family and gawking in stores
- Fish on Peru's Coast: Endangered and Overexploited
Last comments
- In A Peruvian UN officer in Afghanistan: Reflections on overcoming terror
Javier Lizarzaburu says :
18 March, 2010 10:17:04
How interesting the way you compare both realities, Gonzalo. In fact, when I saw the main city ... - In Wanted: Who stole my laptop at Starbucks yesterday morning?
Hugo Arce M says :
18 March, 2010 09:37:56
Of course I am very sorry for your lost, but as many others said above, this happens in any place at ... - In An expat visit home: Seeing family and gawking in stores
Mariella says :
18 March, 2010 09:26:13
Oh the fruit! I am a Peruvian currently living in Canada, so I have had my share of unpleasant exper ...
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