"Crisis in transportation and informality reveal the weakness of the Peruvian political system."

In a context of increasing informality and social discontent, the recent selection process for the new president of the Board of Directors of Congress has coincided with a series of tragedies in public transportation, highlighting the complex interrelation between economic informality and politics in Peru. In recent weeks, several public transport buses have veered off course on streets and highways, resulting in the deaths of citizens and a climate of unease that reflects the vulnerability of a society in crisis. This phenomenon is not an isolated case; rather, it is part of a structural problem affecting our bicentennial republic. A recent investigation by this newspaper has revealed that Eduardo Salhuana, president of the Board of Directors, has received 65 visits from organizations linked to informal and illegal mining since January 2023. This data underscores the influence these informal actors exert on legislative decisions, raising questions about the quality of democracy and representation mechanisms in the country. The death of five people on the Los Libertadores road due to traffic accidents caused by vehicles operating outside the law is another clear example of how informality permeates all aspects of public life. Public debate often focuses on the economic aspect of informality, where informal workers are seen as tax evaders or workers without rights. However, the discussion should encompass the changing relationship between the individual and the law, and how this interaction impacts the regulation of society. In past decades, this topic was explored from various perspectives, but today it seems to have been relegated to the background, reflecting a crisis in the social analysis of Peru. One of the few voices that has addressed this phenomenon comprehensively is that of sociologist Danilo Martucelli, who coined the term "desformal society." This concept suggests a social life that does not conform to desired regulations, highlighting the fluidity in the individual's relationship with norms. In this context, compliance with the law becomes a matter of opportunity, leading to ethical relativism. Thus, the same individual may act corruptly when bribery is socially acceptable, but may also refuse to be corrupted at other times. This ethic of relativity has profound implications for the practice of citizenship in Peru. As informality becomes normalized, the notion of "being a citizen" becomes ambiguous. Reality shows that both organized groups of informal miners and those seeking to influence politics through lobbying are actors operating in a space where legality, informality, and illegality intertwine. This situation challenges the traditional conception of the republican citizen and self-governance, creating a scenario where ethics and morals are questionable. The aim is not to justify corruption or the impunity of illegal powers but to highlight the complexity of the relationship between the legal, informal, and illegal in Peruvian politics. The achievements made by informal miners, who present themselves to democratically elected authorities, reflect the fragility of a system based on public trust. Meanwhile, intellectual elites continue to cling to simplistic narratives that stigmatize certain actors or idealize protest movements, failing to understand that reality is more intricate. Reform proposals have emerged on multiple fronts, from labor to tax and political spheres. However, many of these initiatives fall into reformist fetishism, where it is believed that small adjustments can lead to significant changes. This approach often falls short, as it does not address the fluid and transient nature of citizens' relationship with the law. Reforms tend to be punitive or formalizing and fail to capture the complexity of informality ingrained in society. The arrival of this relative citizenship, born from a desformal society, manifests in various aspects of the democratic regime. Apathy becomes normalized, disaffection perpetuates, and the electorate faces the dynamic of the "lesser evil," where a lack of accountability becomes a constant. Instead of having strong parties or leaders to guide the electorate, the current scenario is characterized by a blend of individualities navigating between uncertainty and discontent. The lack of a comprehensive understanding of informality and its impact on politics leads to a vicious cycle that perpetuates the crisis. The tensions emerging from this complex relationship highlight the urgent need for a deeper analysis to understand how informal actors shape the present and future of Peru. In a country where informality has reached historic levels, it is essential to find a path that reconciles the practice of citizenship with the demands of a society seeking to be heard and effectively represented.