LIMA, Peru (AP) – Peruvian President Dina Boluarte announced on Tuesday that the country will hold general elections in April 2026, aiming to restore stability after years of political turmoil.
Boluarte, who is facing record-low approval ratings, stated that the elections will select a new president, 130 deputies, and 60 senators. This will mark the return of Peru’s bicameral legislative system, which has not been in place since the early 1990s.
In a brief televised address, Boluarte did not confirm whether she would run for office. She took power in 2022 following the removal of then-President Pedro Castillo, who attempted to dissolve Congress to avoid impeachment just two years into his five-year term.
Boluarte assured the public that the upcoming elections will be “democratic, clean, transparent, and orderly.”
Unpopularity and Rising Violence
Boluarte’s leadership has been widely criticized, with a 93% disapproval rating, according to a March 2024 poll by Datum Internacional. Her term is set to end on July 28, 2026.
The country has also been grappling with rising violence, which has fueled public frustration. Last week, Peru’s Congress voted to remove the interior minister, citing his failure to curb escalating crime rates.
Public outrage intensified following the recent murder of Paul Flores, the 39-year-old lead singer of the popular cumbia band Armonía 10. He was fatally shot when gunmen attacked his band’s tour bus after a concert in Lima.
In response to the surge in violence, Boluarte declared a state of emergency in the capital on March 19, deploying soldiers to assist police. This came after authorities reported a sharp rise in homicides, with 2,057 killings in 2024, compared to 1,506 in 2023.
Boluarte had previously implemented a state of emergency from September to December in an attempt to curb crime, but violence has continued to escalate.
As Peru prepares for its next elections, the nation remains deeply divided, with citizens demanding stronger leadership and effective solutions to the country’s growing security crisis.
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