Peruvians who have not yet decided their vote, just five days before the general elections, have a wide menu of 35 presidential candidates to choose from, including new and veteran faces, as well as profiles such as a right-wing comedian, a former footballer, a fugitive from justice, retired military personnel, businessmen, and communicators. The most well-known politicians in this race are the right-wing Keiko Fujimori (Fuerza Popular), daughter and political heir of former president Alberto Fujimori (1990-2000), and the ultra-conservative former mayor of Lima, Rafael López Aliaga (Renovación Popular). However, the most famous face is probably the comedian Carlos Álvarez (País Para Todos), a star of Peruvian television who has impersonated politicians for the past 30 years, including former president Michelle Bachelet.
In addition to Fujimori, there are two other center-right candidates with family ties to former presidents: Mario Vizcarra (Perú Primero), brother of imprisoned former president Martín Vizcarra (2018-2020), and businessman Rafael Belaúnde (Libertad Popular), grandson of two-time president Fernando Belaúnde Terry (1963-1968 and 1985-1990). Castillo-related candidates Three candidates are linked to the also imprisoned leftist former president Pedro Castillo (2021-2022), including his former minister and congressman Roberto Sánchez, who has raised his banner and is campaigning on his behalf to achieve his freedom. On his congressional lists, he includes two of Castillo's brothers, one of his nephews, and his sister-in-law.
The Marxist party Perú Libre, with which Castillo won the elections in 2021, is this time represented by its leader, Vladimir Cerrón, a neurosurgeon trained in Cuba who has been a fugitive from justice for three years due to various corruption cases from when he was a regional governor. Also running is Carlos Jaico (Perú Moderno), who was secretary of the Presidential Office under Castillo. From the left, lawyer Ronald Atencio competes for the electoral alliance Venceremos; center-left candidate Alfonso López Chau (Ahora Nación), former rector of the National University of Engineering (UNI), and a group of former ministers from previous governments such as Jorge Nieto (Buen Gobierno), Marisol Pérez Tello (Primero la Gente), and Fiorella Molinelli (Fuerza y Libertad) represent the center.
Also from the center are two expelled leaders from the Acción Popular party, including former governor of the Cajamarca region Mesías Guevara (Partido Morado) and former congressman Yonhy Lescano (Cooperación Popular). University owners and veteran politicians From the business world come César Acuña (Alianza Para el Progreso) and José Luna (Podemos Perú), owners of private universities linked to their respective political parties, while businessman Ricardo Belmont (Obras) leads a group of candidates seeking to jump to the presidency after serving as mayors. Belmont was mayor of Lima from 1990 to 1995 and shares the ballot with Álvaro Paz de la Barra (Fe en el Perú), Álex Gonzáles (Partido Demócrata Verde), and former footballer George Forsyth (Somos Perú), who have been mayors of different districts in Lima.
Also with a long political career are former congressmen Francisco Diez-Canseco (Perú Acción) and Fernando Olivera (Frente de la Esperanza), while the Partido Aprista Peruano, of the late former president Alan García Pérez (1985-1990 and 2006-2011), has opted for renewal with Enrique Valderrama. Military contingent The military presence is felt with José Williams (Avanza País), who participated in the liberation of the Japanese ambassador's residence; Roberto Chiabra (Unidad Nacional), who was involved in the Cenepa War (1995) against Ecuador; Wolfgang Grozo (Integridad Democrática); Herbert Caller (Partido Patriótico); and Charlie Carrasco (Partido Demócrata). Completing the list are journalist Carlos Espá (Sí Creo), Paul Jaimes (Progresemos), businessman Antonio Ortiz (Salvemos al Perú), teacher Rosario Fernández (Un Camino Diferente), former official Walter Chirinos (PRIN), and musician and surgeon Armando Massé (Perú Federal).