Peru is not a structurally polarized country, but rather a fragmented and volatile democracy where veto players abound and projects capable of structuring political competition are lacking.
Illegal mining bursts onto the scene in Peru's 2026 elections as a political force capable of influencing candidates, laws, and parties in a country where gold carries as much weight as votes.
Illegal mining, transformed into a parallel economic and political power, advances in Peru by means of money, violence, and influence, threatening to decide the 2026 presidential elections from the shadows.
The removal of Dina Boluarte is not an isolated event, but rather the confirmation of the pattern of instability that has characterized Latin American presidencies for more than four decades.
