Peru subnational elections highlight party weaknesses

Significance

Subnational elections across the country saw a further rebuff to Peru’s longer established parties, many of whose elected representatives are widely reviled. Outside Lima, the main winners were ad hoc regionalist parties, led by local elites. Many candidates have been besmirched by accusations of corruption.

Impacts

• Lopez Aliaga will be hard pressed to honour exaggerated electoral promises.
• The focus of politics will now shift back towards congressional attempts to force Castillo out.
• The election results will do little to improve local governance.
• The electoral authorities appear powerless to weed out corrupt candidates.