Peruvians cast ballots Sunday in a presidential election featuring a record 35 candidates, as voters seek to end a decade of political turmoil that has produced nine presidents and eroded faith in democratic institutions.
No candidate polls above 15 percent, making a June 7 runoff virtually certain. The crowded field reflects deep voter frustration with Peru's political establishment, which has been plagued by corruption scandals, impeachments, and weak governing coalitions that have paralyzed decision-making.
Crime tops voter concerns amid record homicide and extortion rates. Homicides surged from around 1,000 in 2018 to more than 2,213 in 2025, while extortion complaints increased 43 percent over five years. Political corruption ranks as the second-biggest issue, with four former presidents currently in jail, most linked to bribery cases involving Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht.
Keiko Fujimori holds a narrow lead in opinion polls, making her fourth presidential bid after reaching runoffs in 2021, 2016, and 2011. The 50-year-old daughter of late autocratic president Alberto Fujimori has positioned herself as a guarantor of order and economic stability, appealing to voters alarmed by surging violence.
Her candidacy remains polarizing due to her family's controversial legacy and past legal troubles. Alberto Fujimori was convicted of corruption and human rights abuses, serving 16 years in prison before his death.
The Guardian frames Peru's election through a lens of democratic dysfunction and institutional breakdown, emphasizing the country's inability to maintain stable governance. Their coverage highlights the human cost of political chaos while treating the crowded candidate field as symptomatic of deeper systemic failures rather than democratic vitality.