Peru heads to the polls this Sunday in a decisive first-round election that will choose its ninth president in just ten years, a stark reflection of prolonged political instability. The race, led in the polls by Keiko Fujimori in her fourth bid for the presidency, unfolds in a climate of widespread disillusionment, where 35 candidates compete in an increasingly fragmented field. Analysts expect no contender to surpass the 50% threshold required for an outright victory, making a runoff in June almost inevitable.
The campaign has been overwhelmingly shaped by public concern over rising crime, with extortion and contract killings dominating national debate. Traditional policy discussions on education, healthcare, and cultural development have been largely sidelined, replaced by calls for harsher security measures, including proposals for mega-prisons inspired by El Salvador’s containment strategies. In the Rímac district of Lima, symbolic and sometimes theatrical campaigning reflects the tone of the race, as candidates attempt to capture attention in an environment saturated with promises of order and survival.
The election takes place against a backdrop of deep political exhaustion and competing interpretations of voter sentiment. Historian José Carlos Agüero argues that the electorate is not simply apathetic but driven by intense emotions of rejection in urban areas and a sense of political restitution in the interior, particularly following the removal and imprisonment of Pedro Castillo. That case continues to influence the race, with several candidates pledging to grant him a pardon if elected, turning his legacy into a live political issue.
The electoral field is further complicated by extreme fragmentation, with no candidate reaching even 20% in most surveys and early attempts at centrist unity largely failing. Among the more visible contenders are César Acuña, Rafael López Aliaga, and other figures ranging from seasoned politicians to media personalities, highlighting the volatility of Peru’s party system. The death of candidate Napoleón Becerra during the campaign further underscored the unpredictability of the race.
Beyond traditional campaigning, social media has become a decisive battlefield, especially among more than 2.5 million first-time voters. Influencers, viral trends, and platforms like Instagram and TikTok have been widely used to shape perceptions, though experts argue that this strategy has often prioritized visibility over credibility. Despite heavy online promotion, several leading candidates have struggled to convert digital attention into actual voting support.
