The Peruvian citizens residing in Spain have gone this Sunday to the polls in an election day marked by the high participation, long queues and a notable concern for the political and social situation of their country.
In Barcelona, the venue of the Fira de Barcelona has gathered from early morning thousands of voters, with 119 polling stations enabled for the more than 59,000 Peruvians registered in Catalonia. The day has proceeded normally, with ballot boxes open from 07:00 to 17:00 hours.
Incidents in Madrid and delays in the constitution of polling stations
The main incident has been registered in Madrid, where several of the 212 polling stations could not be constituted at the scheduled time due to the absence of their regular and substitute members.
According to what the consul general explained, Arturo Chipoco, the situation was resolved hours later through the incorporation of volunteers among the voters themselves or the reorganization of already operative polling stations.
However, some voters reported that they had to leave the polling station without voting due to the impossibility of waiting, in a context of high turnout at the pavilion set up in IFEMA, which hosts more than 105,000 Peruvians with the right to vote.
A key day also abroad
In total, 219,545 Peruvians residing in Spain are called to participate in these elections, with polling stations distributed in fourteen cities. In addition to electing president and vice presidents, voters also designate senators, deputies, and representatives of the Andean Parliament, as well as their own representatives abroad.
The voting is part of the first electoral round, in which 35 candidacies are competing, and which will foreseeably lead to a second round next June 7 due to the fragmentation of the vote.
Concern about insecurity and corruption
Among voters, the citizen insecurity and the political corruption are repeated as main concerns.
Some residents highlight the need to participate despite the lack of confidence in the candidates. Others emphasize the institutional deterioration of the country and the impact of crime as determining factors in their voting decision.
The general perception reflects a deep wear and tear of the political class, in line with a decade of instability marked by constant changes of Government and institutional scandals.
Foreign participation in a context of political crisis
The mobilization of Peruvians abroad is framed within a national scenario of distrust and fragmentation, where compulsory voting coexists with logistical difficulties and political disaffection.
Despite this, the participation in Spain evidences the interest of the diaspora in influencing the future of the country, in elections called to define if Peru manages to begin a stage of greater stability after years of institutional crisis.