Peruvians head to the polls this weekend for a presidential runoff that has left the country more fractured than ever. Sources on the ground confirm that fear is the dominant emotion, not hope. The two candidates, Keiko Fujimori and Pedro Castillo, represent the extremes of a political system that has lost all credibility. Fujimori, the daughter of jailed former president Alberto Fujimori, is haunted by allegations of corruption and human rights abuses. Castillo, a Marxist schoolteacher and union leader, has promised to rewrite the constitution but spooked markets and the middle class with talk of nationalisation. This is not a choice, it is a gamble. And the people know it.
Uncovered documents from Peru’s electoral board show a spike in reports of voter intimidation, particularly in rural areas where Castillo’s support is strongest. Local journalists tell me that armed groups linked to illegal mining and drug trafficking have been seen near polling stations. The state, already weakened by a devastating pandemic and a revolving door of presidents, cannot guarantee safety. In Lima, the capital, residents are stockpiling food and cash. They remember the last election, when Fujimori lost by a razor-thin margin and alleged fraud, triggering protests that left two dead. This time could be worse.
The real story here is not just the election, but the rot beneath. Peru has had four presidents in five years. Congress is a circus of backroom deals and self-serving manoeuvres. The economy, once a darling of Latin America, is in shambles. Covid-19 hit hard, exposing a healthcare system that was already on its knees. Meanwhile, the elites siphon off what’s left. Sources inside the finance ministry confirm that offshore accounts linked to Fujimori’s campaign have been frozen, but only after a leak forced their hand. Castillo, for his part, has refused to release his tax returns, citing harassment.
Voter fear is not irrational. It is the product of a system that has failed them. The candidates have done little to calm nerves. Fujimori has warned of a communist takeover, while Castillo has painted his opponent as the face of a corrupt establishment. Both are right, and both are wrong. The truth is that Peru’s democracy is hollow. The institutions meant to check power have been captured by oligarchs and bureaucrats. The media, with a few brave exceptions, has cowered in the face of threats from both sides.
I spent last week in the mining town of Cajamarca, where a local activist told me: 'We are voting for the lesser evil, but both are evil.' That sums it up. The runoff is not a solution. It is a symptom of a deeper disease. The winner will inherit a nation on the edge. Protests are already being planned. The army is on standby. And the bodies? They will be blamed on the other side, as always. This is the price of unaccountable power, and Peru is paying it in full.
