Elections in Peru and Colombia: The U.S.-China Contest for Influence Over Key South American States

On April 12–13, 2026, Peru held the first round of its presidential election. Conservative candidate Keiko Fujimori won the vote, advocating closer alignment with the democratic bloc and economic liberalization. 

In the runoff, she will face progressive candidate Roberto Sánchez Palomino, who narrowly surpassed Rafael López Aliaga—a proponent of closer cooperation with the Republican administration in the United States.

López Aliaga, who remained the frontrunner in most public opinion polls until mid-March 2026, secured less than 12% of the vote and finished third. The electoral process in Peru unfolded after a decade of recurring political crises during which the country had eight presidents.