PERU PARTIES SIGN ETHICAL ELECTION PACT GEARING UP

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LIMA 002030

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PE
SUBJECT: PERU PARTIES SIGN ETHICAL ELECTION PACT GEARING UP
FOR 2006



1. SUMMARY: Twenty-one political parties and organizations
signed a comprehensive "Ethical Elections Pact" (EEP) on
4/28. The EEP signatories agreed to conform to existing
legal limits on when, where, and what type of political
propaganda can be promoted, as well as the prohibition
against using State resources for campaigns. The agreement
also includes provisions requiring candidates to submit
written summaries of their qualifications and in-depth plans
for how they would govern. The EEP is a positive step, and
includes compliance mechanisms designed to ensure that
violators are subjected to public censure. END SUMMARY.


2. On 4/28, twenty-one political parties, including all
leading contenders for the Presidency, signed the Ethical
Elections Pact (EEP) pledging to reject dirty politics and
avoid empty campaign promises. The agreement was drafted by
the National Electoral Board (JNE) in conjunction with the
National Accord (an official forum made up of major political
parties, labor centrals, and civil society organizations),
the Civil Association Transparencia, the Andean Commission of
Jurists, and International IDEA (Institute of Democracy and
Electoral Assistance). The pact includes commitments to
abide by electoral law provisions, as well as new commitments
not currently in the law.


3. The EEP begins with a commitment to a just and transparent
general election process focusing on ideas and programs in
lieu of personal attacks and aggressive or intimidating
politicking. To better inform the electorate, the EEP
commits parties and candidates to submit to the JNE detailed
plans for government and their curriculum vitae and
qualifications. Both are new commitments not currently in
GOP law. The plans for government aim beyond a party
platform with candidates obliged to describe their near and
long-term government program proposals and how they will fund
and implement these proposals. The EEP, in conformance with
existing law, also limits the content of election propaganda
and where and when it may be displayed. Prohibited election
advertisements include anything that offends or denigrates
political competition or uses religious themes. Restrictions
on diffusion include explicit hours for loudspeakers, written
permission requirements for use of private buildings, and
prohibitions on the use of official public buildings.
Additional limitations on campaigning are in effect 24 hours
before election day.


4. The EEP, in conformance with existing law, requires
neutrality by State officials in elections. Ninety days
before the election, officials running for re-election are
prohibited from inaugurating or inspecting public works,
speaking about their political competitors during official
events, and using any government funds for the benefit of the
campaign. The EEP also covers media obligations, and the
media is requested to promote the pact, provide informative
coverage of the political organizations, and respect the
dignity of candidates. Lastly, the EEP includes a commitment
by the signatories to clean-up public areas after the
elections are completed via a "Ciudad Limpia" campaign.


5. The EEP includes a mechanism for judging whether
signatories are complying via a new Honor Tribunal. This
Tribunal will hear complaints and allegations that are
not/not under the purview of the JNE and establish procedures
and penalties to be approved by the signatories. The Honor
Tribunal will be composed of three civil society
representatives appointed by consensus of the signatories.
The Tribunal will seek to resolve issues without sanctions,
but the signatories agree to abide by the decisions of the
Tribunal.


6. Twenty seven parties were invited to sign the pact. The
six who did not are: Resurgimiento Peruano, Y se llama Peru,
Movimiento Nueva Izquierda, Nueva Mayoria, Cambio 90, and Si
Cumple (the latter three are linked to ex-President Alberto
Fujimori). Though their party representatives signed on to
the agreement, Alan Garcia (APRA),Lourdes Flores (Popular
Christian Party),and Valentin Paniagua (Accion Popular) did
not personally attend the signing ceremony.


7. COMMENT: The EEP represents a maturation of the democratic
process in Peru and should help to increase the strained
public confidence in political parties. Though explicit
sanctions and fines are currently limited to public officials
who overstep their bounds in seeking re-election, public
embarrassment for noncompliance should provide teeth to the
agreement. The proof will be in how the signatories behave
under the campaign pressures when election day approaches
next year. END COMMENT.
STRUBLE