The next session of the Council of Ministers, scheduled for Thursday or Friday, will debate three legislative decrees that aim to reform Peru’s penitentiary system. The decrees are being presented under the powers that the bicameral Congress granted to President Keiko Fujimori’s administration. Justice and Human Rights Minister Ernesto Álvarez said the three decrees have already passed through the legislative process and have been validated by various sectors. “We have three legislative decrees that are ready; we will likely approve them in the Council of Ministers tomorrow or the day after,” Álvarez told reporters. He declined to provide details on the content of the decrees, noting that the approval process is slow because of procedural rules and that the Congress has not yet passed any laws beyond the delegation of powers. According to former Constitutional Court president and Justice Minister Álvarez, the first measures the executive will issue under the granted powers will focus on strengthening security in prisons. “It is basically a penitentiary package and the relationship between intelligence services and prison control, which is the most urgent at the moment,” he said. The parliamentary report that approved the measures includes reforms and modernization of the National Penitentiary Institute (INPE), a declaration of the need to build new prisons, and an amendment to the Special Penitentiary Career Law. The amendment seeks to permanently disqualify dismissed INPE officials from re‑entering the institute, accelerate administrative sanction processes, and allow retired Army and National Police officers, as well as security experts, to assume leadership roles in prisons and other high‑level positions. In a separate action, the president delivered two state lands totaling 2,600 hectares in Huacho for the construction of two new penitentiary centers. Sources close to the cabinet say the government does not support “penales todistas” and intends to create exclusive prisons for primary inmates where productive workshops can be implemented. More experienced criminals will be transferred to maximum‑security facilities, a move that began earlier this week when inmates from El Milagro in Trujillo were moved to Challapalca in Puno. When asked about criticism from opposition lawmakers that the Fujimori administration has made little progress in its first 100 days, Justice Minister Álvarez called the opposition’s stance “unjust” and defended the government’s actions. Labor and Employment Minister Juan Sheput echoed this sentiment, describing the opposition’s remarks as “batahola de mala fe” (bad‑faith). Sheput cited a Datum International poll in which 10 % of respondents rated the government as “good,” 47 % as “regular,” 38 % as “bad,” and 5 % were unsure. He added that 41 % believe the government can improve and that the poll should be read in context. Sheput also highlighted the government’s efforts to address the El Niño phenomenon, noting that ministries have been mobilizing weekly, especially in the north, to prepare cities for potential rainfall. He said security measures have already begun, including the removal of antennas and the deployment of armed forces to maintain prison perimeter security. The president’s first 100 days, according to the Labor Minister, have mainly focused on restoring the “presidential institution.” He acknowledged that security policies still need to mature but emphasized the administration’s actions regarding El Niño. Sheput invited opposition lawmakers to debate the government’s initiatives, naming figures such as Ernesto Zunini and Jorge Nieto. Opposition voices have been critical. Senator José Mercedes Castillo of Juntos por el Perú said, “We have not seen any progress.” Deputy Ernesto Zunini of the same party tweeted that the government has issued no decrees on citizen security or El Niño despite the powers granted 10 days ago, calling for urgent action. Deputy Víctor Piñán of Obras also noted that the administration still has many pending tasks, particularly in combating citizen insecurity, and said he would reject a note if asked. Prime Minister Luis Galarreta announced that President Fujimori will present a 100‑day balance on Thursday. “We have a government, a president, leadership, and a vision of where we want to go. Decisions must keep moving forward, and results will be seen over time,” Galarreta said.
Article source: El Comercio | Image credit: El Comercio