January 18, 2007. Copyright 2007, Graphic News. All rights reserved

PeruÕs President Alan Garcia determined to make the most of his second chance
By Joanna Griffin

LONDON, January 18, Graphic News:  PeruÕs Alan Garcia proves that persistence pays even in the fickle world of politics. Almost two decades after leaving office in disgrace, the socialist pulled off an astonishing comeback in June 2006 to win a second shot at the presidency. Has he been given a chance to make amends for past mistakes, or merely a free reign to make new ones? 

While GarciaÕs hypnotic oratory skills and charm certainly won over many voters, he was partly helped to victory by VenezuelaÕs radical leader Hugo ChavezÕs support for his rival Ollanta Humala. In the end, memories might just have been fresher of President Alberto Fujimori, who replaced Garcia in 1990 but whose 10-year rule ended in controversy in 2000.

Those who voted against Garcia, on the other hand, certainly recall how he fled Lima in 1990 amid corruption charges, leaving a country mired in economic crisis and plagued by violent unrest. He lay low in Europe and Colombia for almost a decade while Japanese-born Fujimori attempted to restore stability, and crack down on the Shining Path guerrillas whose movement had surged under Garcia. 

He returned for the 2000 presidential elections, but was defeated in a run-off by Alejandro Toledo. He claims his long wait to regain power has made him wiser. 

The first time around, it had all come so easily. Born to middle class parents in Lima on May 23, 1949, he studied law in Peru and in Europe before returning home in 1978 to embark on a political career. In 1980 he won a seat in Congress for the American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (Apra). Just five years later, he became the countryÕs youngest president and was nicknamed ÒPeruÕs JFKÓ.

But the golden boy soon lost his lustre as Peru tipped over into chaos, defaulting on debts, recording soaring hyperinflation and sinking into chronic poverty. It is alleged that the military committed human rights abuses under orders to crack down on social unrest and the guerrilla movement, but it is not clear if Garcia had knowledge of this. By the time he fled in 1992 he had been accused of embezzling millions of dollars.

In the run-up to the 2006 polls, the father of five made a virtue of his failures, saying that he did not want his tombstone to read: ÒHe made the same mistakes twiceÓ. He promised to divert mineral wealth to the poorest, put more women in powerful roles, and create thousands of jobs. He also pledged fiscal prudence, and named former Spanish bank executive Luis Carranza finance minister as a signal of his intent.

In a Latin America whose leaders are more aware than ever of the benefits of regional alliances, he has patched things up with Venezuela and Chile, and declared himself an ÒadmirerÓ of BrazilÕs Luis Inacio da Silva. Garcia, who at over 6ft (1.83m) is tall for a Peruvian, enjoys a lot of support among young people spellbound by his charisma.

Whether or not Garcia is the one Peruvians need to lead them towards a better future remains to be seen. In the end, he was the one they wanted -- and he must have wanted it very badly indeed.
/ENDS