Ask Onix
Extortion crisis shapes Peru's presidential election
Peru's voters head to the polls Sunday with crime and insecurity topping their concerns, as extortion gangs target transport workers and small businesses across the country.
Violence against drivers fuels public anger
A criminal group in Lima's impoverished San Juan de Lurigancho district sent a chilling message to a bus company last year: "If you don't meet our demands, we will kill your drivers." The threat preceded an armed attack on driver Toño, who was shot in the legs and abdomen.
"I was out of work for four months," Toño said. "Now I work with fear. My wounds have healed, but the pain inside remains." He now drives with plainclothes armed police on board for protection.
His case reflects a broader crisis: nearly 30,000 extortion incidents were reported in Peru in 2025, according to official figures. Last year, 239 drivers were killed, an independent crime observatory found.
Eiffel Calla, head of security at Toño's depot, said five drivers from his company had been attacked. One was killed, another left in a vegetative state.
Candidates offer starkly different solutions
Right-wing candidate Keiko Fujimori, running for president for the fourth time, has centered her campaign on a "tough-on-crime" platform. She has pledged to deploy the military against organized crime, tighten prison controls, and collaborate with banks to block extorted funds.
At her final rally, Fujimori declared "war" on extortionists, invoking her father Alberto Fujimori's legacy. The former president, who ruled from 1990 to 2000, is remembered by supporters for restoring order but was later jailed for human rights abuses.
Supporter Piero called a heavy-handed approach "sorely lacking," while Janeth praised Fujimori's economic record, saying, "For stability, we choose Keiko."
Her opponent, left-wing candidate Roberto Sánchez, has proposed sweeping state reforms, including reviewing mining contracts, raising corporate taxes, and increasing the minimum wage. He argues Peru's mineral wealth fails to benefit ordinary citizens or rural communities where mining occurs.
"Our raw materials-gold, copper-go to other countries, while we live in misery,"
María Elena Linares, Sánchez supporter
Sánchez has also promised to free former President Pedro Castillo, imprisoned after attempting to dissolve Congress in 2022.
Economic stability vs. state expansion
Peru's economy has remained stable despite political turmoil, including eight presidents in the past decade. As a major copper exporter, the country has attracted foreign investment, but inequality persists.
Fujimori's free-market policies contrast with Sánchez's plans to expand state control over natural resources, which have unsettled financial markets. Sánchez supporter Raúl hopes the changes will fund health, education, and infrastructure outside Lima.
"We'll nationalize, but we'll still welcome foreign investors who want to contribute," Linares insisted, rejecting claims that Sánchez's policies would deter investment.
Young voters disillusioned with both candidates
Under-30s, who make up a quarter of Peru's electorate, have led protests against crime, corruption, and inequality. Many feel neither candidate offers real change.
Consuelo, 21, vice-president of a student federation, called the choice between Fujimori and Sánchez the "lesser evil." She fears Fujimori's authoritarian tendencies, saying, "Fujimorism means authoritarianism-a huge fear for students."
Cielo, 23, joined anti-Keiko protests despite her family's business being extorted. Alvaro, 22, plans to vote "critically" for Sánchez to block Fujimori, though his preferred candidate didn't reach the runoff.
"I want a modern right with free-market values, but not someone vindictive," he said.
Political gridlock likely to continue
With no party holding a congressional majority, analysts warn of continued instability. José Luis Pérez Guadalupe, a former interior minister, called the polarization "extreme," noting Peru's volatility: eight presidents, 24 justice ministers, and 32 interior ministers in a decade.
"Whoever wins will struggle to implement their plans," he said.
Consuelo echoed the frustration: "Whether Fujimori or Sánchez wins, we know instability will likely continue. It's a pretty hopeless choice."
