Worrying data about democratic perception in Peru: Risk of a shift towards authoritarianism?

With a little over two years until the next general elections in Peru, a survey conducted by International Idea in collaboration with Ipsos Peru reveals concerning data about the perception of democracy in the country. According to the results, 43% of Peruvians believe that democracy is preferable to any other form of government, while 29% state that they do not care if the regime is democratic or not. On the other hand, 23% indicate that under certain circumstances, an authoritarian government may be preferable to a democratic one. Within this latter group, various situations were identified that could lead citizens to prefer an authoritarian government, such as the poor performance of democratic leaders, citizen insecurity, the malfunctioning of public services, and periods of intense economic crisis. Additionally, 50% of respondents believe that Peru needs a "strong leader" willing to act with a firm hand to impose order, while 31% think it requires a conciliatory and dialoguing leader. Faced with these results, political analysts like Mabel Huertas warn of the danger that a significant portion of the population is willing to give up their freedoms in exchange for a certain order. Huertas points out that dissatisfaction with the current system and the political and economic crisis in which the country finds itself create a fertile ground for potential radical or authoritarian leaders. Political analyst Jeffrey Radzinsky also warns about the weakening of democratic systems in the region and the possibility that candidates with authoritarian proposals could gain support in a context of discontent with democracy. Radzinsky refers to cases such as that of Nayib Bukele in El Salvador, whose popularity has grown despite his authoritarian tendencies. Enrique Castillo, another political analyst, highlights the population's disappointment with democracy in Peru and the feeling that this system does not meet the expectations of the citizenry. Castillo mentions historical examples, such as the authoritarianism of Alberto Fujimori, that have left a mark on the political perception of Peruvians. Faced with economic recession and citizen insecurity, some sectors might view the possibility of experimenting with authoritarian governments as an alternative to solving the country's problems in a favorable light. In a context of political and social uncertainty, these figures underscore the need to strengthen democracy and address citizen demands to avoid a shift towards authoritarian regimes that could jeopardize individual freedoms and the rule of law in Peru.