Popular Power and the Political Spectrum, Fernando Carvallo [COLUMNA]

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According to usage dating back to national assembly during the French Revolution, political positions are defined along a spectrum that runs from the extreme left to the extreme right.

The deputies, who sat in the seats to the left of the chamber, argued for the changes brought about by the Revolution, while those who defended the traditional order of an unequal society sat on the right.

Thus, the concept of “left” ceases to be associated with the “sinister”, embodying the values ​​of progress, freedom and equality. Perhaps that is why the word we use in Spanish for “left” comes from Basque or some other pre-Roman language.

However, the adjectives “extreme”, “ultra” or “radical” have a negative connotation, close to fanaticism and dogmatism, which often lead to violence. Although there have been parties since the 18th century that have rejected the common name, the spectrum of left and right continues to serve as a guideline for locating one’s position on the political map of most of the world’s countries.

In a statement released yesterday, the parliamentary group strength of the people He blames “sabotage” that would prevent the holding of general elections. For Fujimorismo, this sabotage was carried out by both “far-left” and “radical-right” congressmen.

This means that Fuerza Popular considers itself to be far from two extremes, which usually means that one of them is in the center. There are countries where there are parties that call themselves the Center. This is not the case in Peru today.

But perhaps the possibility of early elections could lead to a rediscovery of the virtues of moderation and therefore a defense of change without compromising the virtues of democracy and economic development.

Things as they are