WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Chair of the SFRC Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, issued the following statement underscoring the need for the Peruvian Congress to respect judicial independence.
“We are deeply disappointed and concerned by the Peruvian Congress’ decision to move forward with its efforts to purge the country’s autonomous National Board of Justice (JNJ) by seeking to remove its current members. The JNJ plays an integral part in upholding the independence of Peru’s judicial and electoral system, responsible for the appointment, removal, and oversight of judicial and electoral authorities. This decision severely threatens the independence of the country’s judicial and electoral processes, and represents yet another series of alarming actions Peru’s Congress has taken in recent years, from the replacement of the Constitutional Tribunal in a non-transparent process to the targeting of the head of the country’s National Elections Tribunal.
“Peru is one of the United States’ most important democratic partners in South America. Amid worsening democratic backsliding and threats to independent institutions throughout the hemisphere, it is imperative that we continue to work with our partners to fulfil our commitments to our citizens to prioritize and uphold democratic values, the rule of law, and human rights. Any appearance of political interference with the JNJ will have a profound impact on the legitimacy and strength of Peru’s democracy. We urge members of Peru’s Congress to uphold the integrity of the country’s independent institutions and to seriously reconsider their current course of action.”
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