24.12.2025 23:10
Before the 2026 presidential elections in Peru, 34 candidates have expressed their intention to run for the country's most risky position. It is risky because arrest warrants have been issued for 7 out of the last 12 presidents, and 4 of them are still in prison, known as the "presidents' prison." This situation indicates that the candidates will be competing not only with ballots but also with the law.
In Peru, 34 candidates are vying for the presidency ahead of the 2026 elections. However, this position is not secure for anyone. In the last 35 years, 7 out of 12 presidents have been arrested, and 4 are still serving time in the "presidents' prison." This situation shows that candidates must pass not only the ballot box but also the test of the law.
RECORD PARTICIPATION: 34 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES
The Peruvian electoral authority, Jurado Nacional de Elecciones (JNE), announced that the presidential candidacy process has ended and that 34 candidates have officially submitted their applications to be on the ballot. During the same period, 1,383 individuals applied for candidacy for parliament.
CANDIDATES NOT YET FINALIZED
The submission of applications does not mean that the candidacies are finalized. JNE will evaluate whether the candidates meet all legal criteria. However, in practice, most candidates successfully pass this process, and the race appears to be extremely open and competitive.
NO FAVORITE IN POLLS
According to a poll published by Ipsos this week, no candidate has more than 10% support. 48% of respondents indicate that they have not yet made a choice. The names that stand out in the voting percentages are conservative politicians Rafael López Aliaga and Keiko Fujimori, along with centrist Mario Vizcarra. However, the differences are within the margin of statistical error.
THE MOST RISKY POSITION IN THE COUNTRY
In Peru, the presidency is not only a political position but also carries legal risks. Since 1990, arrest warrants have been issued for seven of the twelve presidents who have served. Four former presidents are counting their days in a special prison known nationwide as the "presidents' prison."