• Source: 1990 Peruvian general election

General elections were held in Peru on 8 April 1990, with a second round of the presidential elections on 10 June. This exercise was to elect the President of the Republic, two vice presidents, and the members of Congress. The elections filled 180 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 60 seats in the Senate for the 1990-1995 governmental period.
The run-off was between favorite, novelist Mario Vargas Llosa leading a coalition of economically liberal parties collectively known as the Democratic Front and political underdog Alberto Fujimori of the populist and more moderate Cambio 90. Vargas Llosa won the first round with a small plurality, but alienated much of the electorate with a comprehensive privatisation agenda, bolstering the allegedly unelectable Fujimori who had finished second ahead of Luis Alva Castro of the ruling APRA party to enter the run-off against Vargas Llosa. Fujimori eventually won a landslide victory and would remain president for ten years until his forced resignation in November 2000.




Background


At the time of the 1990 elections the government of Alan García of the Peruvian Aprista Party (APRA) faced significant public disapproval. This disapproval was due to attempts to nationalize the banking system, purportedly to control rampant inflation that had been uncontrollable since 1987. Garcia's administration was also marred by corruption scandals and a resurgence of terrorist violence, notably from the terrorist organization Shining Path. Consequently, it was anticipated that the elections would prompt a significant right-wing response.




Presidential candidates


Mario Vargas Llosa, a widely recognized writer, ran as the candidate of the tripartite coalition Democratic Front (FREDEMO). Vargas Llosa was initially favored to win decisively, potentially eliminating the need for a runoff, particularly given the perceived weakness of the incumbent APRA party. APRA nominated Luis Alva Castro, its second vice-president, as its candidate. However, as the campaign progressed, Alberto Fujimori, representing the small new party Cambio 90, began to gain increasing support in the polls. Fujimori's rise was attributed to his moderate profile, which drew support away from the traditional candidates.




Campaign


During the presidential runoff Fujimori received endorsements from United Left and Socialist Left, along with a faction of the APRA led by García. Vargas Llosa was supported by Ricardo Belmont, the newly elected mayor of Lima, and Ezequiel Ataucusi, the leader of the Agricultural People's Front. Vargas Llosa also received backing from various media outlets and personalities, including the newspaper Expreso, Panamericana Televisión and television host Augusto Ferrando.




Debates


A debate between Vargas Llosa and Fujimori took place on 3 June 1990 during the runoff campaign. This was the first televised debate in Peruvian presidential elections.




Opinion polls






= President

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First round





Results


Due to mandatory voting laws voter turnout was high, reaching 78% in the presidential election but notably lower in the legislative elections, with 68% for the Chamber of Deputies and 69% for the Senate. Voter turnout for the presidential runoff was slightly higher than in the first round at 80%.




= President

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In the first round Vargas Llosa received 33% of the votes, while Fujimori, who had initially polled at 1%, significantly increased his support to secure second place with 29% of the vote. Alva Castro of the incumbent APRA party finished in third place with 22% of the vote, the first time that the APRA candidate did not finish first or second in a free election. No other candidate exceeded 10% of the vote; the two main left-wing candidates representing United Left and Socialist Left finished in fourth and fifth place with 8% and 5% of the vote respectively.
As no candidate received more than 50% of the valid vote in the first round, a runoff was necessary for the first time in Peruvian history. Fujimori achieved a decisive victory with 62% of the vote, making him the first elected president since the restoration of democracy to secure over half of the total vote. Vargas Llosa saw a small increase in support from the first round, receiving 38% of the vote. Although Vargas Llosa had won across the country in the first round, in the runoff he only received a majority of the vote in the department of Loreto.




= Chamber of Deputies

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FREDEMO emerged as the largest party in both chambers, securing 20 senators and 62 deputies. Despite its presidential candidate finishing third, the APRA maintained its position as the second-largest party, winning 17 senate seats and 53 deputy seats. Cambio 90 led by Fujimori finished third, capturing 14 Senate seats and 32 in the Chamber of Deputies.



By constituency





= Senate

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Aftermath


The two chambers of the elected Congress in Peru were unable to complete their constitutional terms due to a self-coup by Fujimori on 5 April 1992, in which he dissolved Congress and intervened in the judiciary, effectively suspending the constitutional governance. Following the coup, Fujimori governed with full powers until the end of 1993, when a Democratic Constituent Congress was inaugurated. Despite the political upheaval, Fujimori completed his term and was re-elected in 1995. This period of governance led to significant constitutional reform, including the abolition of the Senate. As a result, the 1990 elections were the last for the bicameral parliament.




References

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