Peru: Courts Order Release of a Former President, Hand Second Sentence to Another

Peru: Courts Order Release of a Former President, Hand Second Sentence to Another
Above: Peruvian flag waves in Lima on July 26, 2019. Image copyright: Buda Mendes/Getty Images

The Spin

Narrative A

The relentless prosecution of former presidents in Peru is by no means the way to address systemic corruption, especially as it undermines genuine anticorruption efforts. Given that the justice system has been weaponized, current leaders have perverse incentives to cling to power undemocratically as their sole option to avoid prosecution.

Narrative B

Holding former presidents accountable through prosecution demonstrates that no one is above the law, so it's positive for democracy that this has become common in Latin America — and Peru is at the forefront of this trend. Democratic health depends on conducting such trials properly, as impunity only encourages abuse by current and future leaders.


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© 2025 Improve the News Foundation. All rights reserved.Version 6.15.2

© 2025 Improve the News Foundation.

All rights reserved.

Version 6.15.2