Proposed new Constitution beginning to lose popular support, IEP survey finds

The dream of some politicians to change the Political Constitution of Peru for a new, it became a talking point in the 2021 general election and became a demand in the streets during protests against Dina Boluarte’s government. Although last month this proposal obtained 40% support in the poll of the Institute of Peruvian Studies (IEP), this time it recorded a slight drop in results.

When asked what they considered most practical for the country compared to the 1993 Constitution, 36% of participants indicated that it should be replaced by a new Magna Carta. That’s four points down from January, which was the month with the most support for the proposal. In June 2022, only 30% of citizens were interested in this idea.

Since February 2022, making some changes to the current Constitution has begun to lose popular support. From 52%, it reached 45% in January of the same year, while in February it recorded a slight increase of two points. On the other hand, those who consider that nothing should be changed represent 13% and those who say they do not know or have an opinion on this subject, 4%. Despite the changes recorded, it can be said that they are not significant.

“Greater support for making changes to the current Constitution is being achieved among the residents of Metropolitan Lima, urban areas, as well as among men and among those who belong to NSE A/B and C. It is also among those who consider themselves center or right-wing, who have a great or little interest in politics and approve of the current president,” reads one of the findings of the IEP opinion poll.

Fuerza Popular leader Keiko Fujimori leads the polls again, although this time it is one in which the public is consulted on which politicians should retire. 31.6% of respondents believe that the ex-dictator’s daughter should step down. This is a question to which the interviewer did not give names, but a spontaneous response was expected from those consulted.

In recent weeks, Fujimori and members of his party have indicated that he will not participate in the early legislative elections. However, he has not ruled out that this decision will involve the rest of the elections, so it could be expected that his name will appear again on the voting card for the following election. For the moment, it is not known who will represent his party in the next presidential election.

In second position are those who do not know or do not specify with 20.7% while 13.5% demand the departure of all members of the political class. Dina Boluarte appears with 7.3%, followed by the entire national representation and Prime Minister Alberto Otárola. With a lower percentage, but still named by those consulted, are Vladimir Cerrón, Pedro Castillo, Jorge Montoya, Patricia Chirinos, Antauro Humala, among others.

Those whose name is around 1% are Guillermo Bermejo, César Acuña, Rafael López Aliaga, Verónika Mendoza, Aníbal Torres, Ollanta Humala, Hernando de Soto, Yonhy Lescano, Lourdes Flores, Jorge del Castillo, George Forsyth, Fernando Olivera and former president Martín Vizcarre. The latter has made public his desire to participate in the next presidential elections by representing Peru Primero.