Peru faces record field in election, corruption and crime top voter concerns - Reuters

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiuwFBVV95cUxQWUlYczFUSl9ZYm1FakJUYkVNcjJwMEdKZG5fS0wtamZxQmYteDlEM0EwNnp6M253TnhBdUVhSWJ6c2ZFR1dnX19PUFUySEZYdWZxOEZtR01tUTRLaG9WY194ZXRLNUhOczBUQThJTnF4RUdqZTgtaVE5YzZwRG1YYUJlQWZNNzR3UUZ1THM0c2pYNE9pR2J6NFoxUDh2NmZhWGFCMEdZZVVSdEVqZWxzd2h6eVFVMlJRRTBR?oc=5" target="_blank">Peru faces record field in election, corruption and crime top voter concerns</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">Reuters</font>

Peruvians head to the polls on April 12, hoping to break a cycle of political turmoil that has prevented any president from completing a full term over the past decade, amid corruption scandals, rising crime, and voter frustration. About 27 million Peruvians are eligible to vote for a new president and a newly reinstated bicameral congress.

The political situation in Peru is undergoing a concerning democratic deterioration that requires urgent international attention, especially in the context of the general elections on April 12, 2026. Since 2021, when there was an attempt to illegally annul the electoral results that gave victory to Pedro Castillo, Peru's democratic institutions have been severely weakened, mainly due to actions by Congress.

Peru is heading into a pivotal presidential election on Sunday, with 35 candidates vying for the presidency amid escalating violent crime, corruption, and political instability. Public trust in the candidates is low, and many have proposed tough-on-crime measures, including creating megaprisons and restoring the death penalty.

Political scientist Alberto Vergara critically analyzes Peru's presidential elections, highlighting an alarming combination of the country's most serious problems with the worst electoral offer in decades. He points out voter apathy and resignation due to the lack of solid candidates and real programmatic proposals.