At least 34 candidates have registered to run in the presidential elections in Peru In 2026the electoral body reported this Wednesday. This figure represents a record for a country marked by political volatility in recent years.with several former leaders arrested or fired.
Candidates in the April 12 election include a comedian, a former soccer player and Keiko Fujimori, daughter of the late former President Alberto Fujimori, who is considering running for a fourth time.
During the last presidential election, in 2021, 18 candidates participated. The electorate will publish the final list of candidates on March 14declared its president Roberto Burneo during a press conference. Any Peruvian can file an objection against a candidate, alleging that he or she does not meet the legal requirements.
In Peru, presidential terms often end prematurely due to impeachments, resignations or accusations of corruption. Dina Boluarte’s dismissal in October made her the sixth consecutive president of Peru not to complete a full term.
The last president to complete his term was Ollanta Humala, who governed from 2011 to 2016 but was sentenced to 15 years in prison for money laundering earlier this year.
Among the registered candidates is the former right-wing mayor of Lima, Rafael López Aliaga, nicknamed “Porky” because of his resemblance to a famous cartoon character. The conservative Keiko Fujimori will try again after attempts in 2011, 2016 and 2021, where she was beaten by the leftist Pedro Castillo, sacked and arrested at the end of 2022.
Other candidates include Vladimir Cerrón, a fugitive from justice and leader of the Marxist Peru Free party, who led Castillo to the presidency; Carlos Álvarez, popular comedian and impersonator of former presidents; George Forsyth, former football goalkeeper; and Mario Vizcarra, brother of former president Martín Vizcarra, currently in prison.
With great distrust of traditional parties and politicians, an Ipsos Peru survey published last Sunday indicates that almost half of Peruvians (48%) do not know who to vote for, intend to cancel their vote or do not have a favorite candidate. It is therefore likely that there will be no direct winner in the first round, which is expected to advance to the second round on June 7, according to analysts.
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