The Authoritarian Reconstitution of the State

Abstract

At 10:30 p.m. on the evening of April 5, 1992, as Peruvians were watching the Sunday evening news, the program was interrupted. President Alberto Fujimori appeared on the screen, and in a grave and serious tone, announced that his government was adopting emergency measures to address the problems of guerrilla violence, drug trafficking, and corruption in the judiciary. He announced the dissolution of congress, the suspension of the 1979 constitution, and the reorganization of the judicial branch. In effect, the president dissolved existing democratic institutions and assumed dictatorial powers. Immediately following the broadcast, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces General Nicolás Hermoza Ríos announced the military’s firm support of President Fujimori and the so-called autogolpe.¹