There is an old Russian joke that explains it. Two Soviets are walking down the street. One of them asks his comrade: “Have we achieved real communism yet?” “No!” the other answers. “Things are going to get even worse.” The joke always hides a reality: achieving communism was the socialist ideal. A utopian society that would be the end of the class struggle, after the emancipation of the proletariat. A future paradise that justified the present hell. An ideal. And, since it is an unattainable ideal, the leftist narrative suggests that the gulags were not true socialism. Neither were Cuba, Nicaragua or Venezuela.
Something similar is happening in Peru. Those on the left who jumped on the bandwagon of Velasco, Alan 85 or Ollanta say that they were never left-wing. That is how the left always gets into government, but never assumes its liabilities. Now Verónika Mendoza and her allies say that Pedro Castillo was not left-wing either. That is why they call for a march against Dina Boluarte, the leftist president they put in power.
The right does the opposite. And that is why it loses the narrative. It defends the unpopular Boluarte, demonizes the marches and promises governability. If the left offers ideals and hope, the right offers realism and status quo. If the left dreams of promises and changes, the right sells stability and order. If the left announces future castles in the air, the right defends the present of lime and sand. And, in this eternal political struggle, radical emotions will always win over boring reasons.
We must read the May 68 tone of these fair-minded centre-right candidates: enough of realities, we want promises.
