Peru runoff campaign begins amid coup fears, criminal charges for López Aliaga

With the June 7 runoff campaign officially underway, analysts described Peru's post-electoral situation as involving coup fears, disinformation campaigns, and ongoing social tension. López Aliaga faced a formal criminal complaint from the Public Ministry for alleged incitement to civil disorder — stemming from his threat of 'civil insurgence' and his offer of 20,000 soles to supporters who could prove fraud. The case highlighted how close Peru came to institutional rupture. Both runoff candidates — Keiko Fujimori and leftist congressman Roberto Sánchez — faced deeply polarized electorates: polls showed 38% for each, with 17% planning blank or null votes. Interim president Balcázar's caretaker government, Peru's eighth head of state in under a decade, maintained a low profile ahead of the July 28, 2026 inauguration.