04/10/2026
Peru heads to the polls this Sunday, April 12, 2026, in a high-stakes general election to choose a new president and an entirely renewed Congress.
The election comes at a time of deep public frustration over political instability, corruption scandals, rising crime, and years of rapid presidential turnover. With a record 35 presidential candidates in the race, it is increasingly unlikely that any one candidate will secure the 50% needed to avoid a runoff.
Keiko Fujimori is leading in several polls, but other contenders such as Carlos Álvarez and Rafael López Aliaga remain close behind, showing just how fragmented the electorate is as Peruvians search for stability and stronger responses to insecurity.
Public security has become one of the campaign’s defining issues, with many candidates promising tougher anti-crime measures, larger prisons, and stricter conditions for inmates. Analysts widely expect the election to move to a second round on June 7, extending uncertainty over who will ultimately lead the country.
Source: AP News
Peru's next president will be chosen from a pool of 35 candidates that includes a former minister, a comedian and a political dynasty heiress.
