Debating the elimination of regional movements in Peru: Strengthening of political parties or opaque maneuver?

Amid the debate on how to strengthen political parties in view of the super electoral year 2026, various political actors have raised their voices against the proposal of the Congress to eliminate regional movements, arguing that this alternative structure only benefits regional and local leaders, hindering the consolidation of true party quality in Peru. The unique figure of regional movements in the country is almost unparalleled in Latin America, as neighboring nations tend to have independent candidacies or alliances between parties and social movements. In contrast, in Peru, a system of fragmented competition has developed, where parties vie for power in each region with regional movements, each with its own particular rules. Despite the perception of inequality in the competition between parties and movements, data shows that the balance is not as skewed as one might think. From 2002 to 2022, on average, parties obtained 43% of local constituencies, while regional movements reached 44%. It is important to highlight that in the last three periods, the advantage of regional movements over parties has been halved. At the provincial level, regional movements maintain a wider advantage, with an average of 50% of constituencies won compared to 38% for parties. However, analyzing the latest periods shows a decrease in this gap, from a 48 to 21 percentage point advantage for regional movements. It has been evidenced that regional movements have exacerbated the weaknesses of parties in constituencies, as their existence tends to be limited in time and they are subject to the will of a local leader, hindering the internal democracy of a party. Of the 14 regional movements that managed to place a governor in 2022, only one has been in existence for more than 15 years, suggesting a high turnover of these groups. The elimination of regional movements is proposed as a necessary measure to strengthen the internal democracy of parties and promote greater transparency in the political process. This decision should be accompanied by the implementation of clearer rules that compel leaders to compete within parties, where primary elections could play a crucial role in candidate selection. However, the way in which this proposal has been presented in Congress has sparked controversy, as it was included in a discussion on reelection, rather than addressing it as a standalone issue. The Constitution Committee rejected a clear proposal to eliminate regional movements and chose to raise the participation threshold in regions, which has been criticized for being seen as an attempt to introduce opaque changes in the electoral process. In conclusion, while it is necessary to review the presence of regional movements in the Peruvian political system, it is essential that any modification be carried out transparently and through consensus, with the aim of strengthening democratic institutions and ensuring equitable competition among political actors. Only in this way can progress be made towards greater party quality and a more faithful representation of the interests of the citizenry in the national political arena.