Peru’s crowded race for president in troubled times

Peru is holding its latest presidential election with 35 candidates running to lead a country that has cycled through eight presidents in a decade. The vote comes as violence and corruption dominate public frustration, pushing many voters to see politicians as untrustworthy. Crime has spiked sharply, with homicides doubling and extortion cases jumping five times higher than a decade ago. Some candidates are responding with tough proposals like bigger prisons, cutting food for inmates, or bringing back the death penalty. Over 27 million Peruvians can vote, and around 1. 2 million living abroad will also cast ballots, mostly from the U. S. and Argentina. Since no one is expected to win more than half the votes outright, a second round in June looks likely. Meanwhile, a new two-chamber Congress is being elected for the first time in over 30 years, giving the upper house more power to remove the president. This change happened even though 80% of voters opposed it in a 2018 referendum.Among the front-runners is Keiko Fujimori, daughter of a former president, running for the fourth time. She promises strict crime policies but has supported laws that experts say weaken prosecutions. Another candidate, a conservative ex-mayor, wants judges to stay anonymous and foreign residents breaking the law to be expelled. A comedian-turned-politician is pitching a security alliance with leaders from El Salvador, Denmark, and Singapore. The new Congress will appoint key officials like judges and central bank leaders, raising concerns about concentrated power. Critics argue a smaller Senate of just 60 members could still become corrupt. The election reflects deep distrust in leadership, with many Peruvians feeling unsafe and skeptical that change will come.