Ollanta Humala

Ollanta Humala
Name	Ollanta Humala Tasso
Birth date	October 27, 1962
Birth place	Aplao, Castilla, Arequipa, Peru
Nationality	Peru
Occupation	Soldier; Politician
Office	64th President of Peru
Term start	July 28, 2011
Term end	July 28, 2016
Predecessor	Alan García
Successor	Pedro Pablo Kuczynski

Ollanta Humala is a Peruvian politician and retired Peruvian Army officer who served as the 64th President of Peru from 2011 to 2016. Rising from a military background, he became a prominent figure in Peruvian politics through a nationalism-inflected platform and two presidential campaigns. His tenure and subsequent legal challenges generated significant attention across Latin American and international institutions.

Early life and education

Humala was born in Aplao, Castilla, in the Arequipa region of Peru. He is the son of Isaac Humala, founder of the Movimiento Etnocacerista milieu, and María Zeballos. He attended the Chorrillos Military School for officer training and later pursued further military education at the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth and regional institutions affiliated with the Peruvian Army.

Military career

Humala served as an officer in the Peruvian Army and participated in internal security operations during the period of counterinsurgency against Shining Path and Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA) remnants. He commanded units in the Rainforest areas of Madre de Dios and Ucayali, and was involved in operations related to border security with Brazil and Ecuador. His service included advanced courses and deployments that connected him with military institutions such as the USSOUTHCOM partner programs and regional military academies.

Political rise and 2006 presidential campaign

Transitioning from military to politics, Humala founded the Peruvian Nationalist Party and allied with figures from indigenous and leftist movements, including contacts with leaders associated with the Tierra y Libertad tendency and sectors of the Union for Peru. In the 2006 presidential election he ran on a nationalist platform emphasizing resource sovereignty, drawing inspiration from political shifts in countries led by Hugo Chávez, Lula da Silva, and Evo Morales. His 2006 campaign culminated in a second-place finish in the first round and a defeat in the runoff to Alan García. The campaign elevated Humala into the mainstream political arena and led to alliances and rivalries with parties such as Peru Posible and civil society organizations like the CGTP.

Presidency (2011–2016)

Humala won the 2011 presidential election in a runoff against Keiko Fujimori of Fujimori's movement and took office on July 28, 2011. His administration included coalitions with centrist and leftist figures, appointing ministers with backgrounds linked to economic institutions, academia, and social movements. During his term he faced political tensions with the Peruvian Congress and negotiated with regional governors from Cusco, Loreto, and Puno over extractive projects and revenue-sharing. His presidency occurred amid global commodity price shifts influenced by demand from China and policies in Brazil and Argentina.

Policies and governance

Humala's policy agenda emphasized redistribution, investment in social programs, and increased regulatory oversight of mining and hydrocarbon projects such as Antamina, Las Bambas, and concessions in Marañón River basins. He promoted conditional cash transfer-style initiatives modeled on programs from Bolivia, Ecuador, and Brazil while also engaging with multilateral lenders like the Inter-American Development Bank and World Bank-linked projects. His cabinet faced scrutiny over appointments connected to business interests and controversies linked to alleged influence by companies operating in the Amazon. Internationally, Humala maintained relations with leaders including Barack Obama, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, and Michelle Bachelet, while engaging forums such as the UNASUR and the OAS.

Legal troubles and post-presidential developments

After leaving office in 2016, Humala and his wife, Nadine Heredia, were investigated for allegations of illicit campaign financing with purported links to foreign companies and political actors, prompting inquiries by the Judiciary of Peru and prosecutors associated with anti-corruption units influenced by precedents in cases like those against Alberto Fujimori and the Odebrecht scandal. Humala faced preventive detention and court proceedings related to accusations of receiving funds from entities connected to Petrobras-linked operations and multinational contractors active in Latin America. Legal processes continued through appeals and rulings by tribunals including the Supreme Court of Peru and affected his public standing amid broader national debates over corruption, impunity, and judicial reform. Post-presidency he has remained a polarizing political figure, engaging with party structures, international lectures, and intermittent public commentary involving actors such as Keiko Fujimori and Pedro Pablo Kuczynski.

Category:Peruvian politicians Category:Presidents of Peru