New Cabinet, a Dangerous Turn: REAFFIRM THE CHANGE PROCESS AND THE NEW CONSTITUTION

Via Súmate

In these two months and days, the government of Pedro Castillo has been in the midst of a violent destabilization campaign by ultra-right sectors, not only seeking the fall of some ministers, but also trying to create the conditions to present vacancy as a central objective, and not for a single moment does it intend to put the pressing needs of our people first in order to meet them.

Even so, and despite the pressure, President Castillo has announced profound reforms that are part of the promised changes, such as the need for a Tax Reform, continuity of the vaccination plan, job creation, gas renegotiation, and a 2nd land reform that was launched in Cuzco on Sunday, October 2nd.

NEW CABINET, NEW MOMENT

The appointment of the new cabinet under President Mirtha Vásquez reflects a shift toward the center. A sector of the right may breathe a sigh of relief, but they demand more; while the backward and fascist right continues with their war paint, not caring about the changes, what they really want is to overthrow Castillo’s “communist” government and regain control of the state, prevent any change that threatens their privileges, and stop the constituent process that is causing them enormous panic.

To carry out the changes offered in the campaign, we need the best cadres of the social movement, those who have always been committed, that the left and progressivism have, to form, without sectarianism or opportunism, a politically solid and coherent team, a condition that is not present in the new cabinet. How does President Castillo explain that Mirtha Vásquez has called Mr. José Roger Incio, who comes from the former Acción Popular party, to assume the position of Minister of Production? How do you explain the fact that Mr. Maurtua, who replaced Héctor Béjar, forced to resign, in Foreign Affairs? How to explain the fact that there are ministers who have spoken out against the constituent process, this having been the main proposal of candidate Castillo during the electoral campaign?

This turn of the cabinet to the center creates doubts and a dangerous risk, and at the same time it does not mean that a process of “Ollantization” has begun or that treason is underway, as insinuated by the Perú Libre bench. But we need answers, taking back the country and making changes in favor of the workers and the people is at stake, and in this struggle we were and will be in the front line. We believe that these changes should help put the house in order and not slow down the process.

WE REAFFIRM OURSELVES IN THE PROCESS OF CHANGE AND IN THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY

With the new cabinet, a new moment has opened for Castillo and his government; it is an opportunity that we must take advantage of to reaffirm the process of change and work on the constituent process. In this line, it is necessary to close the way to the centrist and opportunist currents. Consolidate a political agreement with left-wing organizations, unions and trade unions to improve relations with the social movement and correlate forces in favor of the process and give the political struggle for the right-wing coup better conditions.

In addition, it is necessary to continue improving attention to the immediate needs of the population, reactivating the economy, collecting debts from debtor companies, applying taxes on mining super-profits. The progress with vaccines, the return to the classroom, that the Yanapay bonus reaches everyone and in a timely manner, taking urgent measures against the insecurity that grows day by day, improving living conditions by bringing water to the most vulnerable sectors, generating resources for community kitchens, among other immediate measures.

The fight against corruption, which has caused so much damage to the country, is another challenge that President Castillo and his cabinet must take up firmly, in addition to being vigilant in the distribution of appointments being made in state institutions.

The negotiations to recover the gas should not stop, and the 2nd Agrarian Reform must be implemented with the participation of peasant organizations.

It is also important to have an orientation for the citizens to involve them in the signature campaign of the referendum for a Constituent Assembly, so that the people can decide whether they want it or not, and that it should not be a decision of a Prime Minister or a Minister.

We expect President Castillo to firmly assume the leadership of the new cabinet, to reaffirm the proposals for change, and to demonstrate that the left can make a government in favor of the large majorities, that there will be popular support and, of course, ours. But we must also be vigilant if there is an attempt to stop this process of fundamental change, which has cost deaths like that of Inti and Bryan and the great struggle at the polls and in the streets with the mobilization of the social movement, which has achieved a great historic and popular victory.

Finally, we should relaunch the National Front for Democracy and Governance (FNxDG) as a unifying and centralizing body of the movement that arose in the heat of the struggle and played a very important role in the struggle to defend the vote and democracy, and which is a space that helps mobilization and should continue to play a role in important tasks such as the campaign for the constituent process.