Peru Given 12-Month Plan for Democracy

President Alberto Fujimori on Tuesday announced a 12-month plan to return Peru to democracy more than two weeks after he closed Congress and suspended the constitution.

Fujimori said he never intended to create a dictatorship. “We are not destroying democracy but cleaning the ground to build a new, more efficient democracy,” he said.

Speaking in a 25-minute taped television address, Fujimori said a referendum on his emergency measures will be held July 5. He said he will convoke a “national dialogue” Aug. 5 to discuss changes in Peru’s constitution.

Regional and municipal elections will be held as scheduled Nov. 8, when voters also will be asked to approve or disapprove measures decided upon at the August dialogue, he said.

He said the dialogue will take place at a gathering of grass-roots leaders, members of social organizations and political party representatives.

Elections for a new Congress are to be held Feb. 28, 1993, Fujimori said, adding that Congress then would open its first session on April 5, 1993, one year to the day after he announced the emergency measures.

Fujimori expressed disappointment with the international community’s harsh criticism of his measures.

He said he hopes Tuesday’s announcement will convince foreign countries that Peru is committed to democracy and “building a new, modernized state.”

The government, meanwhile, confirmed the resignation of Economy Minister Carlos Bolona in what economists said was a serious setback for Peru’s economic program.