Peruvians Vote in Pivotal Election Amid Security Crisis

Peruvians voted on Sunday in a presidential election featuring 35 candidates and the first bicameral congressional elections in over three decades. The election occurs during a period of heightened public concern over violent crime. With no candidate expected to secure more than 50% of the vote, a runoff election in June is considered likely.

Election Details and Voter Turnout

Voting in Peru is mandatory for citizens aged 18 to 70. More than 27 million people were registered to vote, with approximately 1.2 million registered voters casting ballots from abroad, primarily from the United States and Argentina.

This election could result in the country's ninth president in ten years.

Key Issues: Crime and Public Security

A primary issue cited by voters and candidates is a surge in violent crime. According to official data, homicides have doubled and extortion cases have increased fivefold in the current decade.

A 2025 national survey found that 84% of respondents in urban areas feared becoming victims of a crime in the following 12 months. More than 200 public transportation drivers were killed in Peru in 2025.

Some voters expressed their concerns at polling stations. Juan Gómez, a 53-year-old construction worker, stated:

"You can’t trust anyone anymore, nothing’s going to change."

Raúl Zevallos, a 63-year-old retiree, said:

"You get on the bus, and you have to sit far from the driver; you don’t know if you’ll make it home alive."

Notable Candidates and Proposals

Several leading candidates have proposed policies focused on crime and security:

• Keiko Fujimori, a conservative former congresswoman and daughter of the late President Alberto Fujimori, is running for president for the fourth time. Her proposals include making judges in criminal cases anonymous and requiring prisoners to work to earn their food.
• Rafael López Aliaga, the conservative former mayor of Lima, has proposed building prisons in the Amazon region, allowing judges to conceal their identities, and expelling foreigners living illegally in Peru.
• Carlos Álvarez, a comedian-turned-politician, has stated he would convene leaders from El Salvador, Denmark, and Singapore to discuss security expertise.

Other candidates have proposed measures such as building new prisons, restricting food for inmates, and reinstating the death penalty for serious crimes.

Major Legislative Change: Return to Bicameral Congress

Alongside the presidential vote, Peruvians elected a bicameral Congress, reinstating a Senate that was abolished over 30 years ago. The new Senate will have 60 members.

Key powers of the new Senate include:

• Appointing and sanctioning high-ranking officials, including the ombudsman and constitutional court members.
• Reviewing bills passed by the lower chamber.
• Participating in the impeachment of the president, which will require approval from 40 senators. This is a lower threshold than the previous unicameral system, where 87 of 130 lawmakers were required.

The return to a bicameral system occurred despite 80% of voters rejecting the change in a 2018 referendum. Lawmakers amended the constitution in 2024 to enable the shift.

Alejandro Boyco, a researcher at the Institute of Peruvian Studies, commented on the new structure:

"They’ve concentrated too much power in a 60-people chamber. They are not going to be immune to being corrupt."