Several prominent figures in Peruvian politics failed to secure re-election in the general elections held on Sunday, April 12th, according to initial results from the Oficina Nacional de Procesos Electorales (ONPE) and a rapid count by Datum for América Televisión.
Setbacks for Established Politicians
Among those unsuccessful in their bids for re-election were Alejandro Cavero of Avanza País, Jorge Montoya of Honor y Democracia, Lady Camones of APP, and Sigrid Bazán of the Bloque Democrático Popular. Cavero, who was the second-youngest member of Congress elected in 2021, previously collaborated with Pedro Pablo Kuczynski’s (PPK) youth campaign in 2011.
Jorge Montoya, the most voted-for congressman in the previous electoral cycle with 138,231 votes, resigned from Renovación Popular in May 2024 due to disagreements over party leadership. He then ran with the SíCreo party, which is currently trailing in the “Others” category and risks losing its electoral registration by not surpassing the 5% threshold.
Sigrid Bazán, seeking a seat as a deputy, shifted from Juntos por el Perú to the Bloque Democrático Popular during her previous term. This time, she ran with the Venceremos alliance, but did not achieve re-election. Following the initial results, Bazán stated via her account on “X” that she would “finalizar” her term “de manera impecable” and continue her work in the second round.
Other notable figures who did not succeed in their re-election attempts included Yessenia Lozano, described as the “hija política” of César Acuña, and Carla García, the daughter of former President Alan García. Lozano previously faced scrutiny from the Jurado Electoral Especial (JEE) for allegedly violating principles of electoral neutrality.
Broader Implications for Political Parties
The electoral setbacks extended beyond individual candidates. Ex-congressmen Marisol Espinoza, Arlette Contreras, and Roberto Vieira, running for the Senate with Alianza para el Progreso, were also unsuccessful. Several former ministers from the government of Dina Boluarte, including Juan José Santiváñez and César Vásquez, also failed to secure seats.
Former President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski (2016-2018) also ran for Senate with Fuerza y Libertad, alongside Gilbert Violeta, a former congressman. Communicator Angela Ccanto, running as Victoria Ccanto with the Partido Democrático Federal, and lawyer Diego Pomareda, heading the list of deputies for Libertad Popular, were also unsuccessful.
Sara Manrique, an ex-performer on comedy shows, and Carlos Álvarez, a comedian who ran for president, also did not win seats.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the recent Peruvian elections?
The recent general elections, held on April 12th, saw several well-known politicians fail to win re-election, according to initial results from ONPE and a rapid count by Datum.
Which politicians were unsuccessful in their re-election bids?
Alejandro Cavero, Jorge Montoya, Lady Camones, and Sigrid Bazán were among those who did not secure re-election.
What is the status of the SíCreo party?
The SíCreo party, with which Jorge Montoya ran, is currently trailing in the “Others” category and risks losing its electoral registration by not surpassing the 5% threshold.
As the results are finalized, it remains to be seen how these changes will reshape the Peruvian political landscape and what strategies parties will employ in the upcoming second round and future elections.
