Right-Wing Candidates Projected to Advance in Peru’s Troubled Presidential Election

Keiko Fujimori and Rafael López Aliaga lead Peru’s presidential race as voting extends into a second day following major logistical failures in Lima.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 14, 2026, 7:47 AM EDT

Source: Buenos Aires Times

Logistical Chaos Disrupts National Balloting

The 2026 Peruvian general election has been marred by unprecedented logistical failures that prevented tens of thousands of citizens from casting their ballots on schedule. On Monday, April 13, polling stations in the capital city of Lima were forced to reopen after essential materials, including ballots and boxes, failed to arrive at over a dozen locations the previous day. The National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) has faced immediate legal scrutiny, with police and prosecutors raiding their headquarters and the offices of a private subcontractor to determine the cause of the delays. One election official has already been detained as authorities investigate potential negligence or sabotage.

The Right-Wing Ascendance: Fujimori and López Aliaga

Initial results place Keiko Fujimori, leader of the Fuerza Popular party, in the lead with 17 percent of the vote. This marks her fourth bid for the presidency, campaigned on a platform of "restoring order" and leveraging nostalgia for the strongman rule of her late father, Alberto Fujimori. Trailing closely with 15 percent is Rafael López Aliaga, a wealthy former mayor of Lima. López Aliaga’s campaign, characterized by aggressive rhetoric against migrants and promises of radical economic shifts, has drawn frequent comparisons to the political style of Donald Trump. While other candidates in the 35-person field could still see a late surge as final tallies come in, the current trajectory suggests a run-off dominated by conservative ideologies.

A "Mano Dura" Approach to Crime and Migration

The primary driver for the right-wing surge appears to be a national outcry over a decade-long spike in violent crime. Peru’s homicide rate has more than doubled over the last ten years, with extortion cases skyrocketing from 3,200 to over 26,500 annually. In response, Fujimori has pledged to seek special legislative powers within her first 100 days to deploy the military into the nation’s prison systems and strengthen border controls. Her platform includes the mass deportation of undocumented migrants, a stance echoed by López Aliaga, who has centered his campaign on the "hunting down" of those entering the country illegally.