Author: Mitra Taj
Published on: 10/04/2026 | 00:00:00
AI Summary:
Rafael Lopez Aliaga, a chubby-cheeked business magnate, has been the race’s frontrunner since August. He ran a far-right campaign, expressing support for the United States bombing of alleged drug-smuggling boats and proposing that the US military intervene in Peru to capture gang leaders. But ahead of the vote on Sunday, he has little to show for those efforts. Keiko Fujimori overtakes him by eight points. Trump's aggressive foreign policy has diminished his appeal in Latin America. This year, the share of Peruvians who distrust the US government rose to 48 percent, more than double the portion in 2019 according to polling by the Institute of Peruvian Studies (IEP). But Peru’s election is far from a referendum on Trump, who has yet to endorse Lopez Aliaga or any other candidate. Peruvian political analyst Gonzalo Banda surprised that foreign policy did not emerge as an election issue at all this year. Recent scandals have also raised questions about US influence in Peru. Some left-wing candidates have touched upon Trump's growing involvement in Latin America. Peru is Latin America's second-largest recipient of Chinese foreign direct investment. In February, the Trump administration accused Peru of surrendering its sovereignty by allowing a Chinese company to build and operate a mega-port on its coast. But some Peruvian voters have expressed empathy for Trump's hardline approach. Trump has led a militaristic campaign against illicit drug-trafficking. Eduardo Dargent, a political scientist at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, said the shift likely reflected concerns that a pro-Trump stance was no longer a net positive. It wouldn’t be the first time that Lopez Aliaga has put distance between himself and the US leader.
Original: 1280 words
Summary: 274 words
Percent reduction: 78.59%