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Peruvians head to the polls this Sunday to elect the country’s ninth president in just a decade, amid growing disillusionment and a surge in conservative support.
From the Amazon to the Andes, approximately 27 million voters are set to cast ballots, but many remain undecided, disillusioned by years of corruption scandals and a political system that has failed to meet their needs.
“I wouldn’t vote for anyone. I’m so disappointed with everyone in power,” said Maria Fernandez, a 56-year-old clothing merchant, speaking to AFP. “We’ve been governed by nothing but corrupt, thieving scoundrels.”
Her sentiment reflects a widespread frustration that is echoed across the country as voters face a daunting choice in an election featuring 35 candidates on a ballot nearly half a meter long.
In the lead-up to the election, the top candidates are overwhelmingly conservative, with hardline promises to tackle crime and restore order.
Peruvians will choose from a bewildering array of 35 presidential candidates on April 12, 2026, electing the next leader of an Andean nation beset by crime and a string of short-lived, scandal-tainted presidencies. LUIS ROBAYO / AFP
This includes media mogul Keiko Fujimori, who, in her fourth presidential bid, vows to “restore order” in her first 100 days. She has promised to expand the role of the military and police, even going as far as to expel undocumented citizens and strengthen borders. Fujimori, the daughter of former president Alberto Fujimori, has capitalised on a growing nostalgia for her father’s controversial reign, despite his conviction for human rights violations and corruption.
Fujimori’s tough-on-crime rhetoric resonates deeply in a nation where the homicide rate has more than doubled in the last decade. Crime is a central issue in the election, with violent extortion cases spiralling and voters desperate for a change. While Fujimori leads in the polls, no candidate is expected to secure a decisive victory outright, with a runoff vote likely in June.
Former Lima mayor Ricardo Belmont, 80, has made a late surge in the race, largely through his popularity on TikTok. Belmont, who brands himself as an outsider, has managed to attract a wide range of voters, much like the video game character Pac-Man, according to sociologist Patricia Zarate.
With no clear frontrunner and a fragmented electorate, Peru faces a highly uncertain future. As the nation votes, one question remains: will voters choose to continue down the conservative path that has swept Latin America, or will they demand a fresh direction from a deeply fractured political landscape?
