Hello, and welcome back to the Latin America Weekly newsletter! This week, controversy in Peru over talks to draft a new constitution. Crime in Colombia is on the up. Chile’s election campaign shaken up by Sichel revelations.
Peru next in line for a new constitution?
Amid one of the most polarized election campaigns in Peruvian history, left-wing candidate Pedro Castillo promised radical changes to the way things work in the country, suggesting the drafting of a new constitution. Two months and a razor-thin victory later, President Castillo appears to be doubling down on his campaign pledges, sending political forces both for and against the idea into overdrive. But is Peru ready for another fierce political battle?
Why it matters. While approving a new constitution would mean a lot to President Castillo politically, the process itself would be lengthy and risks causing institutional turmoil — especially in a country that has lacked any sense of political stability since at least 2019.
Why change the constitution? According to Claudia Navas, Peru analyst for consultancy firm Control Risks, the desire for a new national charter stems from the Peruvian people’s “frustration regarding corruption, social and economic inequality, and a political system that was...