Voters in Peru go to the polls on Sunday for a presidential election marked by extreme fragmentation and distrust in the country’s institutions, with a record number of candidates to choose from: 35.
No single candidate is expected to win outright, given how many there are. The top two finishers are likely to advance to a runoff on June 7, where clearer ideological divisions may emerge.
Few expect the election to resolve the political instability that has afflicted Peru for years. Three presidents have come and gone since Peruvians last elected one, in 2021.
That vote brought an outsider to power, Pedro Castillo, a leftist rural schoolteacher who campaigned on tackling inequality and overhauling Peru’s economic model. His presidency soon unraveled amid corruption investigations, chaotic governance and unfulfilled promises.
Just over a year into his term, with an impeachment vote looming, Mr. Castillo tried to dissolve Congress and rule by decree. Instead, he was removed from office and arrested that very day.
His vice president, Dina Boluarte, who succeeded him, proved deeply unpopular. In October, with many Peruvians furious over surging crime and political scandals, she was impeached and ousted.
Her successor, José Jerí, was removed just four months later, after it emerged that he had held undisclosed meetings with businessmen who were under investigation. His replacement, José María Balcázar, the current interim president, is not running for election.
Voting is mandatory in Peru, a country of roughly 34 million people with about 27 million eligible voters.
Why is this election important?
Peru, which has weak political parties and a highly fluid electorate, is known for unpredictable elections. But this is one of its most uncertain contests in years.
None of the 35 candidates have broad support, and about 20 percent of voters are undecided, according to polls. Analysts say the vote will not be driven by ideology.
“This is very volatile, very contingent, very much driven by chance,” said Alberto Vergara, a Peruvian political scientist. “Nobody knows who to vote for. No one really stands out. Most are pretty mediocre. None have real political parties. The vast majority are very unknown.”
Who are the top candidates?
Keiko Fujimori, a four-time presidential candidate and daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori, is among the leading contenders, polling between 11 and 14 percent, according to recent surveys by Datum International and the Institute of Peruvian Studies.
She is a deeply polarizing figure: Supporters credit her father’s government with stabilizing the economy and defeating violent insurgencies in the 1990s, while critics associate it with authoritarianism and corruption.
During Mr. Fujimori’s rule, he dissolved Congress and governed by decree. He was ultimately forced from power over a corruption scandal and, later, was convicted of crimes against humanity for his role in killings during the struggle with insurgents. He was imprisoned until shortly before his death in 2024.
His daughter is one of a cluster of candidates with support in the high single digits to low teens, according to recent polls. They include Rafael López Aliaga, known as “Porky,” a conservative businessman and the former mayor of Lima, the capital, with hard-line positions on crime and social issues; Carlos Álvarez, a comedian who has gained traction with an anti-establishment message; and Ricardo Belmont, a populist, socially conservative former talk show host who also served as Lima’s mayor, and who has also seen a recent bump in support.
There has been no consistent front-runner in the polls. That is typical of elections in Peru, where late surges by outsider candidates are common.
What are the main issues?
Crime and corruption are voters’ top concerns, according to polls. Peru has seen a surge in violent crime, driven by a dramatic rise in extortion, often enforced by gangs by way of arson, explosives or targeted killings. Public anxiety has fueled proposals for tougher security measures, with many candidates calling for the military to play a greater role.
The crisis has exposed deep weaknesses in policing and in state institutions, further eroding trust, as critics say Congress has weakened the oversight mechanisms meant to combat crime.
Regionally, there has been a shift toward conservative, law-and-order politics in countries like Argentina, Ecuador and Chile, driven by concern about crime, economic uncertainty and frustration with incumbents. Such issues have gained traction in Peru, but polling reflects a fragmented electorate and an anti-establishment, anti-Congress sentiment, not a clear ideological shift, analysts say.
Verónica Mendoza, 43, a vendor from Juliaca, a city in Peru’s southern highlands, said she hadn’t decided who would get her vote on Sunday.
“We’re not well-informed,” she said. “They haven’t really reached people. The campaign has been very limited.” She had supported Mr. Castillo, the leftist president, but said this time she might vote for Mr. Belmont, the conservative populist.
Mitra Taj contributed reporting from Lima.
Genevieve Glatsky is a reporter for The Times, based in Bogotá, Colombia.
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