Peruvian Prime Minister Luis Galarreta presented his cabinet policy program to the Chamber of Deputies on Thursday without explaining how key proposals would be implemented.
Galarreta appeared before lawmakers at around 10:00 a.m. holding a 17-page document, accompanied by 17 cabinet ministers as part of protocol preceding ministerial speeches.
Before Galarreta spoke, the congressional broadcast aired a video message lasting just over 20 seconds from Miguel Angel Torres, a key figure in the ruling Fuerza Popular party. Congressional staff briefly interrupted the live transmission of the plenary session to stream the clip, even though Torres does not serve as a member of the Chamber of Deputies.
Galarreta opened his address by describing Peru as a state trapped by bureaucracy that arrives late to crime, emergencies, and family needs. The statement echoed an address delivered on July 28 by Fuerza Popular leader Keiko Fujimori, establishing an inheritance narrative that attributes future difficulties to the previous administration.
The prime minister outlined goals for public safety, basic services, and infrastructure, setting target deadlines for December 2026, July 2027, and the close of the five-year term in 2031. However, he provided no specific operational steps explaining how citizens could expect those targets to be reached.
Security Policy and Crime Proposals
Public safety formed the central pillar of Fujimori's campaign, as more than half of Peruvians report feeling unsafe on public transportation and inside restaurants. Despite safety being designated as the government's highest priority, the administration faced troubled early days in its handling of crime.
Addressing deputies, Galarreta pledged increased operational capacity, intelligence gathering, technology, and police presence across national territory to target extortion, contract killing, organized crime, and drug trafficking. He also proposed transferring minor offenders to new detention facilities, specifically including individuals convicted of failing to pay child support.
While Galarreta spoke of strengthening the flagrancy justice system and police subsystems, he failed to specify concrete mechanisms to achieve those goals.
Disaster Preparedness and Earthquake Response
Disaster risk management formed the second main section of the speech, with 15 of its 16 paragraphs dedicated to the upcoming 2026-2027 El Nino phenomenon. Only one paragraph addressed seismic hazards, committing the government to expand Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) groups from four to eight by the second year of government, and to 16 by the end of the five-year term. Peru currently maintains four USAR teams, with two operated by the Army, one by the Navy, and one by the Air Force.
Just two hours after Galarreta concluded his speech, an earthquake struck Catacora in the Ayacucho region. During his presentation, Galarreta acknowledged that the government was late in El Nino prevention work, promising that it would be the last time such delays occur.
Democracy and Cabinet Presentations
The shortest section of Galarreta's address was a single page dedicated to democracy and governance. Galarreta asserted that the government would defend democratic institutions, press freedom, freedom of expression, and fundamental rights, drawing disapproving expressions from opposition lawmakers who pointed to Fuerza Popular's past legislative actions.
Subsequent presentations by cabinet members failed to build support among lawmakers. Agriculture and Irrigation Minister Marco Vinelli delivered a relatively concrete outline, pointing to an emergency decree published by the current administration that established direct actions with the National Water Authority to prepare for El Nino. However, heavy rainfall over the preceding weekend had already created a difficult backdrop for the administration.
Interior Minister Cesar Astudillo delivered a broader address that repeated general calls for intelligence work and anti-crime measures without offering specific action plans. Hours earlier, deputy Harvey Colchado of Ahora Nacion, a retired police officer, had urged Astudillo not to be deceived and demanded the immediate replacement of Peruvian National Police chief Oscar Arriola, calling his tenure a failure. Astudillo completely ignored Colchado's comments during his presentation.
Legislative Standoff and Final Vote
Toward the end of his speech, Galarreta sought to build a bridge to the legislature, proposing that deputies accompany ministers and government officials to unblock local medical posts, water infrastructure, and medicine supplies. He noted that having previously served on the legislative side of the chamber, he understood that political oversight required knowing how funds were spent.
His appeal met widespread indifference across the chamber. Juntos por el Peru deputy Anali Marquez spent several minutes looking at her mobile phone, while Directing Board vice presidents Harvey Colchado and Jose Yataco of the Obras party also focused on their devices. Even Fuerza Popular deputy Angel Bobadilla was seen checking social media during the premier's address.
Galarreta concluded his nearly hour-long presentation to applause strictly limited to the ruling Fuerza Popular bench. Opposition deputies from Partido del Buen Gobierno, Juntos por el Peru, Ahora Nacion, and Obras remained silent and refrained from applauding, signaling their rejection without issuing a formal statement.
Fuerza Popular is a conservative Peruvian political party led by Keiko Fujimori, the daughter of former president Alberto Fujimori. The unicameral Congress of Peru features a Chamber of Deputies that exercises legislative oversight over the prime minister and the cabinet.
