DENVER—Former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo said Tuesday he is “very seriously” considering another run for office.
Toledo told The Associated Press that he would make an official announcement about his plans in the next six months. Peru’s next presidential election is scheduled for April.
“It’s also a family matter. But at the same time I have a pending agenda with my country,” Toledo said. “The issue of poverty, growth and democracy is very entrenched—very deep to my heart—and so it’s an issue that I’m trying to evaluate.”
Toledo served as president from 2001 to 2006. His approval ratings dropped to as low as 8 percent in part because Peruvians believed he was not delivering on promises such as a pledge to create 2 million jobs.
Those ratings recovered somewhat as the economy grew at the end of his term, and he was succeeded by Alan Garcia. The country limits consecutive presidential terms.
Toledo, a former World Bank economist, lives in Washington, D.C., where he runs the policy research group, Global Center for Development and Democracy.
He said that work—involving other former heads of state from Latin America and focusing on poverty, health care, education and climate change—has kept him busy.
“However, the (presidential) candidacy is something that we are evaluating very seriously. We haven’t ruled it out,” he said.
Toledo was in Denver with other former Latin American presidents as part of the Biennial of the Americas, a monthlong arts and cultural event.
Toledo also expressed concern about Arizona’s new immigration law and the effect it could have on U.S. relations with Latin America.
“If the Arizona initiative goes through, we are going to have a serious problem in the relationship between Latin America, the Caribbean and the United States,” he said.
Arizona’s law would require authorities to question people about their immigration status while enforcing other laws if there’s reason to suspect someone is in the country illegally.
Opponents of the law have said it will lead to racial profiling. Supporters deny the claim, and some argue Arizona is trying to make up for the federal government’s failure to control illegal immigration.
The law takes effect July 29 if it survives legal challenges, including one from the federal government.
Toledo said he hopes “that wisdom will prevail” and that the law is blocked.
“I think it’s a mistake to try and confront the migration issue by deporting people or by building high, thick walls,” he said, referring to the fence at the U.S. southern border. “Because the ingenuity, the capacity of people is such that no wall, no matter how tall or how thick, will prevent their migration.”
Toledo said he is optimistic about Latin America’s economic future as trade opens up with Asia and Europe, “and therefore the flow of migrants (into the U.S.) will be much less, in my view.”
———
Online:
Global Center for Development and Democracy:
Biennial of the Americas:
