Rafael López Aliaga, the ultraconservative businessman and former mayor of Lima, has taken the lead in the official vote count as Peru’s presidential election heads toward a likely runoff. With 25.11% of ballots processed, the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) reports López Aliaga at 18%, followed closely by Keiko Fujimori at 17.26% and centrist candidate Jorge Nieto at 14.59%, according to BioBioChile.
These official figures contrast with early exit polls, which had suggested a stronger lead for Fujimori. Other notable candidates include Ricardo Belmont at 9.14%, Carlos Álvarez at 8.93%, Alfonso Lopez Chau at 7.22%, and Roberto Sánchez at 4.57%, according to the ONPE. Several established parties, including Podemos Perú, Somos Perú, and Peru Libre—whose candidate Vladimir Cerrón is currently a fugitive—appear set to fall out of contention.
Beyond the presidency, voters participated in a crowded field of 35 candidates, voting for two vice presidents, 130 deputies, 60 senators, and five members of the Andean Parliament. The election cycle is critical for a nation that has seen eight presidents in the last decade, reflecting a broader effort to address years of political instability.
Election day logistical failures
The electoral process faced significant disruptions, particularly in Lima, where late delivery of materials forced some polling stations to open up to five hours behind schedule. While the existing article noted that 211 voting tables failed to open, BioBioChile reported that 13 locations serving 52,000 voters were unable to open entirely. In an unprecedented move to address this disenfranchisement, authorities have permitted voting to continue into Monday.
Alfredo Torres, director of Ipsos Peru, had previously cautioned that exit polls might contain a bias toward non-Lima candidates due to these logistical failures. The Prosecutor’s Office and other oversight bodies have launched investigations into the collapse of the voting process, specifically scrutinizing ONPE head Piero Corvetto and the private firm contracted for material transport. Approximately 27.3 million citizens were eligible to participate in the 2026-2031 election cycle. As no candidate is expected to secure an absolute majority, a runoff between the top two contenders remains the likely outcome once the full tally is complete.
