Peru's election sees record number of candidates, with corruption and crime as top voter worries

Peru faces a historic election with 35 presidential candidates as voters confront a decade of political instability. Corruption and rising crime dominate concerns, while citizens navigate the longest ballots in the nations history seeking decisive change in both presidency and congress.

Peru is entering a pivotal moment as citizens prepare to vote in a presidential and congressional election scheduled for April 12. The country faces persistent political instability, with a decade of uncompleted presidential terms due to scandals, resignations, and impeachments, leaving the electorate increasingly frustrated and seeking decisive change.

Voter Participation and Ballot Structure

Approximately 27 million Peruvians are eligible to cast votes for both the presidency and the reinstated bicameral congress. Voting will commence at 07:00 local time (12:00 GMT) and conclude at 17:00, followed by the counting of paper ballots. This year, ballots will measure 44 centimeters in length, marking them as the longest in Peru's electoral history. Citizens have reported that the length and density of the ballots may create challenges in navigating the choices effectively.

Unprecedented Number of Presidential Candidates

This election features a record-breaking 35 presidential candidates. Streets and public spaces, particularly in the suburbs of Lima, are heavily covered with campaign posters and banners. Voters such as shopkeeper Marlene Jimenez have described the ballot as overwhelming and difficult to manage.

Opinion polls indicate a narrow lead for right-wing candidate Keiko Fujimori. Other leading contenders include former mayors of Lima, ultraconservative Rafael Lopez Aliaga, media entrepreneur Ricardo Belmont, and political newcomer Carlos Alvarez, a former comedian. No candidate has achieved more than 15% support in polls, making a potential runoff election on June 7 highly probable. Analysts note that candidates polling between 4.5% and 6% could play a decisive role, as roughly 13% of voters remain undecided.

Political Instability and Institutional Weaknesses

For many Peruvians, the crowded election field reflects broader institutional fragility. Since 2018, Peru has had eight presidents, most removed through impeachment or legal proceedings. Political analyst Fernando Tuesta emphasized that the election could either end the recurring cycle of instability or extend it further.

Corruption as a Campaign Focal Point

Corruption continues to dominate political discourse. Four former presidents are currently imprisoned, mainly connected to bribery cases involving the Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht. Former president Alberto Fujimori, who served a 16-year sentence for human rights violations, passed away in 2024 after being released on humanitarian grounds. Anti-corruption measures are central to multiple campaign platforms.

Crime Emerges as a Rising Voter Concern

While corruption remains significant, public concern over crime is rising and, in some areas, surpasses corruption as the primary issue for voters. Historically, Peru experienced relatively low levels of organized crime, but recent years have seen sharp increases in homicides and extortion, especially affecting transport workers and small businesses. Extortion incidents grew by nearly 20% last year, and homicide rates have reached unprecedented levels. Analysts highlight growing public support for strict crime-fighting measures, reflecting trends in other Latin American countries such as El Salvador.

Policy Proposals from Candidates

Several presidential candidates have outlined stringent strategies to address the rising crime rate, including:

• Deploying military personnel to reinforce public security
• Reinstating the death penalty
• Exiting international human rights courts
• Permitting anonymous judges in criminal trials, effectively reintroducing the "faceless judges" system last seen in 1997

These proposals underscore the tension between public demand for security and existing institutional limitations, reflecting the dual challenges of combating both corruption and crime.

Election Outlook

With only days remaining before the April 12 vote, analysts caution that the result remains uncertain. The combination of an unprecedented number of candidates, a significant share of undecided voters, and persistent social issues positions this election as one of the most complex and consequential in recent Peruvian history.

Sources:

• BBC News
• Al Jazeera
• Reuters
• Peru faces record field in election, corruption and crime top voter concerns