Background and Context
Peru’s presidential elections are set to take place on April 12, 2026. The Jurado Nacional de Elecciones (JNE) announced that a record-breaking 34 candidates have been registered for the position, an unusually high number for a “high-risk” office in a country with multiple former leaders either imprisoned or having fled briefly.
Diverse Candidate Pool
Among the contenders are a fugitive from justice, the brother of an imprisoned former president, a comedian, a retired soccer player, two retired military officers, and the daughter of an ex-president who will attempt to lead the nation for the fourth time.
- Rafael López Aliaga, an ultraconservative ex-mayor of Lima known as “Porky” for his resemblance to a famous cartoon character.
- Keiko Fujimori, daughter of the late former president Alberto Fujimori, who will attempt to win the presidency for the fourth time after participating in elections in 2011, 2016, and 2021.
- Vladimir Cerrón, a fugitive from justice and leader of the Marxist party Perú Libre, which brought Pedro Castillo to the presidency. Castillo is currently serving an 11-year prison sentence for attempting to close Congress.
- Carlos Álvarez, a popular comedian and impersonator of former presidents.
- George Forsyth, a retired soccer goalie from the Somos Perú party of current President José Jerí.
- Mario Vizcarra, brother of former President Martín Vizcarra, who is currently imprisoned.
Low Favorables and Uncertain Outcomes
According to a recent Ipsos Perú survey, nearly half of Peruvians (48%) remain undecided about their vote, choosing to abstain or lack a favorite candidate due to distrust in traditional parties and politicians.
- Rafael López Aliaga is the only candidate with double-digit support at 10%.
- Keiko Fujimori of the Fuerza Popular party has 7% support.
- The remaining candidates have less than 5% of electoral preferences, according to Ipsos.
Experts predict no clear winner in the first round, with a runoff election expected on June 7.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who are the notable candidates? Notable candidates include Rafael López Aliaga, Keiko Fujimori, Vladimir Cerrón, Carlos Álvarez, George Forsyth, and Mario Vizcarra.
- Why is the number of candidates unusually high? The high number of candidates reflects the political instability and frequent changes in leadership in Peru, with seven heads of state since 2018 due to resignations or dismissals.
- What are the predictions for the election outcome? With nearly half of voters undecided and distrustful of traditional parties, experts anticipate no clear winner in the first round and a runoff election on June 7.
