Peruvians will vote on Sunday in a highly unpredictable election that many hope will help end a long period of instability marked by political upheaval, rising violent crime and repeated corruption scandals.
The vote comes after a turbulent decade in which the country has had nine presidents. That pattern has fuelled widespread distrust in political institutions and in the politicians seeking office.
About 27 million eligible voters are set to cast ballots not only for president but also for the bicameral congress. The presidential race features a record 35 candidates, making the contest especially crowded and difficult to predict.
Voters will face a ballot sheet measuring nearly half a metre, described as the longest in Peru’s history. The size of the ballot reflects the large number of candidates competing for national office in a system that has been increasingly unsettled in recent years.
Crime and corruption dominate the campaign
Soaring crime and corruption have been among the biggest concerns for voters heading into the election. The issues have intensified public frustration and added to the sense that the country has been unable to find lasting political stability.
The election is taking place against a backdrop of deep scepticism toward leaders and institutions. For many Peruvians, the vote represents a chance to break a cycle that has repeatedly brought abrupt changes in government without restoring confidence in the political system.
With a crowded field for the presidency and races for congress on the same ballot, the election is likely to produce another complex test for the country’s democracy. Much will depend on whether voters see any candidate as capable of restoring order, reducing corruption and addressing the rise in violent crime.
For now, the central question is whether Sunday’s vote can open a path out of the instability that has defined Peruvian politics for much of the past decade.
