Hugo Blanco (politician)

Hugo Blanco Galdós (September 15, 1934 – June 25, 2023) was a Peruvian Trotskyist politician, activist, and intellectual. He was a prominent figure in the peasant movement in the La Convención Valley of Cusco in the early 1960s, leading land occupations and advocating for land reform.

Blanco became a leading figure in the Peruvian left, advocating for indigenous rights, workers' rights, and environmental protection throughout his life. His activism often involved organizing and mobilizing marginalized communities.

After organizing peasants and leading land seizures, Blanco was arrested in 1963 and sentenced to 25 years in prison. He became an international cause célèbre, with left-wing groups around the world campaigning for his release. He was eventually granted amnesty in 1970 and exiled from Peru.

During his exile, Blanco lived in Argentina, Mexico, and Sweden, continuing his political activism and writing. He returned to Peru in 1978 and was elected to the Constituent Assembly, which drafted the 1979 Peruvian Constitution. He later served as a Senator (1990-1992) and a Congressman (1995-2000).

Blanco consistently identified as a Trotskyist and was associated with various international socialist organizations. He remained an active voice in Peruvian politics until his death, advocating for social justice and criticizing neoliberal policies. He authored numerous books and articles on Peruvian politics, indigenous movements, and revolutionary strategy.