New Peru government promises anti-corruption drive

Subject Narcotics and corruption challenges. Significance President-elect Pedro Pablo Kuczynski has promised to crack down on corruption in public life during his term in office. The extent of corruption -- always difficult to quantify -- has increased with the expansion of cocaine production in recent years. Although not the only source of corruption, the scale of cocaine manufacture, trafficking and money laundering is having a corrosive effect on legal systems and faith in public institutions. It is also a factor in citizen insecurity which tops the list of voter concerns. Impacts Drug trafficking occurs in parallel to such other illicit activities as illegal logging and mining. The extent of the informal economy will limit the efficacy of regulation. Drug interests will remain represented in the new Congress, particularly in the majority Fuerza Popular (FP).