Peruvian President Dina Boluarte announced on Tuesday that the country will hold general elections in April 2026, aiming to resolve ongoing political instability.
Boluarte, who remains deeply unpopular, explained that the elections will include the selection of a new president, 130 deputies, and 60 senators. This will be the first time in decades that Peru uses a bicameral election system, which hasn’t been seen since the early 1990s.
In a brief televised address, Boluarte did not specify whether she would run in the upcoming elections. She assumed office in 2022 to complete the term of former President Pedro Castillo, who was removed after attempting to dissolve the legislature to prevent his own impeachment.
Boluarte assured the public that the elections would be “democratic, clean, transparent, and orderly.”
A national poll conducted by Datum Internacional in March showed that she has a 93% disapproval rating. Her term is set to end on July 28, 2026.
Last week, Peru’s Congress voted to dismiss the interior minister, citing his failure to effectively address the growing issue of violent crime in the country.
Public outrage has intensified due to a rise in killings and violence, particularly following the recent murder of Paul Flores, the 39-year-old lead singer of the cumbia band Armonia 10. He was fatally shot when assailants attacked his band’s tour bus after a concert in Lima.
In response to the killing of Paul Flores, President Boluarte declared a state of emergency in Lima on March 19 and ordered the deployment of military personnel to assist the police in tackling the rise in violence. On the same day, opposition lawmakers called for a vote of no confidence against the interior minister.
Earlier, Boluarte’s government had also imposed a state of emergency from September to December in an effort to curb the escalating violence.
Authorities reported 2,057 homicides in 2024, an increase from 1,506 in 2023.
