2026 Peru General Elections

Peru General Elections are the general elections held in Peru on 12 April 2026 to elect the country’s president, vice president, the entire 60-seat Senate, and the entire 130-seat Chamber of Deputies. Elections were extended by one day due to logistical issues at voting centers, pushing the voting and counting process to 13 April 2026.

Voters at polling stations in Peru for the presidential election, 13 April 2026 – (Anadolu Ajansı)

With approximately 77 percent of votes counted, the candidate from Popüler Güç (Fuerza Popular), Keiko Fujimori, led with 16.9 percent of the vote. As no candidate surpassed the 50 percent threshold, the two candidates with the highest vote shares are expected to face each other in a second round on 7 June 2026.

Background of the Election

In the past decade, Peru has experienced frequent changes in government, with eight different presidents leaving office during this period. This era has been marked by corruption investigations, impeachment proceedings, and political crises. The 2026 general elections took place within this context.

More than 27 million voters went to polling stations. Voting is mandatory for Peruvian citizens aged 18 to 70, and non-voters may face fines. A total of 10,336 voting centers were established nationwide.

Voters at polling stations in Peru for the presidential election, 13 April 2026 – (Anadolu Ajansı)

Candidates and Prominent Figures

With a total of 35 candidates, this was one of the most competitive elections in Peru’s history. The leading candidates are listed below:

Keiko Fujimori (Fuerza Popular — Popular Force Party): Daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori, Keiko Fujimori is running for president for the fourth time. She reached the second round in all three previous elections but did not win.

Rafael López Aliaga (Renovación Popular — Popular Renewal Party): Former mayor of Lima, he emerged as one of the leading candidates during the campaign.

Jorge Nieto (Partido del Buen Gobierno — Good Government Party): He was among the leading candidates and ranked high during the vote counting process.

Roberto Sánchez (Juntos por el Perú — Together for Peru): Former Minister of Tourism, he became one of the prominent candidates during the election.

Ricardo Belmont (Partido Cívico Obras — Civic Works Party): One of Lima’s former mayors, he was among the candidates in the race.

Carlos Álvarez (Partido País Para Todos — Country for Everyone Party): A well-known public figure who ran as a candidate in the election.

Voters at polling stations in Peru for the presidential election, 13 April 2026 – (Anadolu Ajansı)

Election Day and Logistical Issues

The elections were originally scheduled to begin on Sunday, 12 April 2026, at 07:00 and end at 17:00, but logistical problems occurred, particularly in the capital Lima and some overseas centers.

Peru’s National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) reported that approximately 52,000 to 63,000 voters were unable to cast their ballots due to delays in delivering ballot papers, urns, and other election materials. In some centers, materials arrived only five hours after voting had begun.

The National Electoral Jury (JNE) issued an unprecedented decision to extend voting hours in affected areas. Voters in Lima and registered voters in Orlando, Florida, and Paterson, New Jersey, United States were allowed to vote until 18:00 local time on Monday, 13 April 2026.

ONPE attributed the problem to the logistics contractor responsible for delivering materials. ONPE’s General Director, José Samame, accepted responsibility for the delays, resigned from his position, and was subsequently arrested on Monday during an ongoing investigation.

Allegations of fraud also emerged. López Aliaga pointed out that most voting centers in Lima, where his support was strongest, had closed prematurely, and declared he would not accept fraudulent results.

Election Results (Partial Count)

According to official data from the ONPE’s vote counting platform at 76.967 percent completion, the presidential candidates’ vote shares were as follows:

ONPE Official Results — 76.967%

1. Keiko Fujimori (Fuerza Popular) — 16.872% — 2,270,775 votes

2. Rafael López Aliaga (Renovación Popular) — 12.702% — 1,709,582 votes

3. Jorge Nieto (Partido del Buen Gobierno) — 11.772% — 1,584,321 votes

4. Roberto Sánchez (Juntos por el Perú) — 10.344% — 1,392,127 votes

5. Ricardo Belmont (Partido Cívico Obras) — 10.024% — 1,349,043 votes

6. Carlos Álvarez (País Para Todos) — 8.115% — 1,092,232 votes

7. Alfonso López Chau (Ahora Nación (AN)) — 7.575% — 1,019,480 votes

8. Marisol Pérez Tello (Primero la Gente) — 3.636% — 489,312 votes

9. Carlos Espá (Partido Sicreo) — 3.554% — 478,271 votes

10. Fernando Olivera (Frente de la Esperanza 2021) — 1.898% — 255,493 votes

As no candidate reached the required 50 percent threshold in the first round, the two candidates with the highest vote totals will face each other in a runoff on 7 June 2026.

International Observation

The elections were monitored by a total of 487 accredited international observers. Among them were observation missions from the European Union (EU), which deployed over 150 experts nationwide, and the Organization of American States (OAS), which had 96 members on the ground. Both the EU and OAS observation missions reported no major irregularities on election day and noted very high voter turnout.

Peru’s Political Context

Since 2018, Peru has experienced frequent changes in government, with eight different presidents serving during this period. The last president to complete a full term was Ollanta Humala, who served from 2011 to 2016.

The 2026 elections occurred within this political context. The incumbent president, José María Balcázar, has been in office since February 2026. The person elected after these elections will become the ninth president to assume office in the last ten years.

Congressional Elections

Alongside the presidential election, voters also cast ballots for the first time in over 30 years for a bicameral legislature. Under this structure, a 60-seat Senate and a 130-seat Chamber of Deputies were elected.