The fragility of political alliances in the Peruvian Congress

The parliamentary group of Peru Libre, a political party led by the fugitive Vladimir Cerrón, has experienced a drastic disintegration in Congress in less than three years since its arrival in the chamber after the 2021 elections. Initially composed of 37 members, it currently has only 11 members, with Wilson Quispe being the latest to depart from it. The resignations and expulsions within this parliamentary group have been mainly motivated by disagreements regarding ideological coherence and alleged alliances with other political forces or the Executive branch. Quispe's recent departure has triggered mutual accusations between him and the party, with both sides pointing out doctrinal deviations and alignments with different political actors. This disintegration exposes the weak consistency with which parliamentary lists are formed in each election, where different interests come together temporarily in pursuit of power, only to quickly disintegrate once their objective is achieved. Citizens who supported these party options expecting coherence and consistency in the Legislature are disappointed to see the fragility of these alliances. The case of cerronismo is further aggravated by the legal situation of Vladimir Cerrón, convicted of corruption and currently a fugitive from justice. The denial of these circumstances by members of Peru Libre contaminates their legislative work and raises questions about ethics and transparency within the parliamentary group. This crisis is not exclusive to Peru Libre, but is replicated in various political parties in Congress, highlighting the lack of cohesion and stability in our political system. Until this phenomenon of "breaking ranks" in the legislative sphere is effectively addressed, instability and erratic behavior will continue to be endemic in our Legislative branch.