Peru holds presidential election amid record instability
Peruvians vote Sunday to choose a president from 35 candidates as the nation grapples with nine leaders in a decade.
10:44 AM
Peruvians go to the polls on Sunday to elect a new president in a race marked by political fragmentation and widespread institutional distrust. The election comes as the country seeks to break a cycle of instability that has produced nine presidents in the past decade.
Approximately 27 million eligible voters will choose from a record 35 presidential candidates, alongside contenders for the bicameral congress. The ballot sheet measures nearly half a metre, making it the longest in the country's history.
The political landscape reflects deep fractures within Peru's system. Over the past ten years, the country has experienced eight presidents amid crises and political scandals. Four former presidents are currently in jail, most linked to bribery cases involving the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht.
Crime and corruption dominate voter concerns. The fight against crime tops the list of issues, driven by record homicide and extortion rates. Political corruption ranks as a close second priority for voters.
In polling conducted between April 1 and 4 by Datum for El Comercio across 3,000 representative cases, voter intention remains dispersed. A small group of candidates leads preferences with minimal differences, while a second group remains close behind. Nearly 17 percent of the electorate is undecided or would vote blank, leaving the election wide open.
Keiko Fujimori, a three-time presidential candidate and daughter of late president Alberto Fujimori, holds a narrow lead in opinion polls with 14.5 percent support. She is closely followed by comedian Carlos Álvarez and two former mayors of Lima, including the ultra-conservative candidate. Right-wing candidates have been polling ahead of their left-wing counterparts in the weeks leading up to the vote.
The first round of what is expected to be a two-part presidential election takes place on Sunday. The race could still yield unexpected outcomes given the fragmented field and high proportion of undecided voters.