Peru's election: A battle for the Presidency amid political chaos and crime

The Americas Peru's election: A battle for the Presidency amid political chaos and crime April 11, 20265:00 AM ET By  Simeon Tegel Pedestrians pass election campaign signs for presidential and congressional candidates, before the weekend's election in Lima, Peru, April 10, 2026. Martin Mejia/AP hide caption toggle caption Martin Mejia/AP LIMA, Peru — Even by the chaotic standards of Peru's recent politics, this Sunday's election has the potential to confuse and frustrate the Andean nation's 27 million voters. A record 35 candidates are running for president—the country's ninth leader in nearly as many years, reflecting deep political instability. Voters will face a jumbo-sized ballot featuring candidates' photos and party symbols, a longstanding practice in a society historically marked by low literacy levels. Many of them are unknowns barely registering one percent of support. But, amid widespread fury with the entire political class, even the handful of candidates with established profiles are failing to gather momentum. Sponsor Message That means that a run-off election in June between the top two candidates is all but inevitable. Leading the pack, but only just, is Keiko Fujimori, the daughter of the late, disgraced 1990s strongman Alberto Fujimori. She has been walking a tightrope between cloaking herself in her father's legacy of crushing hyperinflation and the Shining Path – Maoist insurgents who once killed roughly 30,000 Peruvians – while also distancing herself from his serious human rights abuses and kleptocracy. Yet although she consistently polls around 10%, that figure may be both her electoral floor and ceiling, with many Peruvians blaming her and her party for their nation's ongoing political turmoil. Peru's top 3 presidential candidates (L to R): Rafael López Aliaga (Renovación Popular), Carlos Álvarez (País para Todos), and Keiko Fujimori (Fuerza Popular) at campaign rallies in April 2026. CONNIE France,ERNESTO Benavides/AFP via Getty Images h...