The National Office of Electoral Processes is nearing the 95% mark in the vote count for Peru’s new bicameral Congress and the Andean Parliament. As of Tuesday morning, May 19, the count for regional senators stands at 95.020%, while deputies are at 94.103% and Andean parliamentarians at 93.667%.
The progress for national senators is slightly lower, currently at 91.541%. The National Jury of Elections (JNE) has indicated that official results are expected to be announced by the end of May.
Composition of the New Legislative Branch
The transition to a bicameral system will result in a Congress composed of 130 deputies and 60 senators. Five members of the Andean Parliament will be elected.
The Senate’s 60 seats are split evenly: 30 will be chosen by national voters, and 30 will be elected across 27 electoral districts. While most districts will elect one senator, Lima Metropolitana will elect four.
These 27 districts comprise the country’s 24 departments, one district for Lima Provincias, one for the Constitutional Province of Callao, and one for Peruvian citizens living abroad.
Current Vote Trends and Party Standings
Based on current counts, Fuerza Popular leads the national Senate race with more than 2 million votes. Juntos por el Perú and Renovación Popular follow, both exceeding 1.5 million votes.
Other parties surpassing the one-million-vote mark include Ahora Nación, Obras, and the Partido del Buen Gobierno. In the race for the Andean Parliament, Fuerza Popular, Juntos por el Perú, and the Partido del Buen Gobierno are currently leading.
In Lima Metropolitana, the race for the Chamber of Deputies is led by Renovación Popular with over 860,000 votes, followed by Fuerza Popular and the Partido del Buen Gobierno, both with more than 650,000 votes.
Processing Delays and Observed Acts
The JNE explained that the delay in finalizing these results is due to the prioritization of the presidential election. Roberto Burneo, president of the JNE, stated that Special Electoral Juries (JEE) are making a “very great effort” to finish by the end of the month.
A significant number of “observed acts” have slowed the process. Out of 68,488 observed acts in the first round, 62,512 pertained to the Congress and Andean Parliament elections.
Of these, 17,978 were for national senators, 13,704 for regional senators, 15,730 for deputies, and 14,629 for Andean parliamentarians. To date, 64,354 observations have been resolved, leaving 4,135 pending.
The Road to Inauguration
The presidential race continues toward a second round on June 7, where Keiko Fujimori and Roberto Sánchez will compete for the presidency.
For the legislative branch, electoral specialists José Tello and Silvia Guevara note that credentials should be delivered by the end of June. This public act must occur by June 30 to allow members to submit their declarations of assets, income, and conflicts of interest to the Officialía Mayor of Congress.
If these administrative requirements are met, the ceremony for the swearing-in of deputies and senators is scheduled for July 26. The subsequent steps include electing a board of directors on July 27 and receiving the president-elect for their swearing-in on July 28.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the official results for the new Congress be announced?
The Jurado Nacional de Elecciones (JNE) has stated that official results will be announced by the end of May.
Who are the candidates for the presidential runoff?
Keiko Fujimori and Roberto Sánchez will compete for the Presidency of the Republic on June 7.
What is the final deadline for the new parliamentarians to be sworn in?
The ceremony for the swearing-in of deputies and senators must take place by July 26.
Do you believe the transition to a bicameral system will change the efficiency of Peru’s legislative process?
