Peru Raids Homes Of Election Officials Over Voting Irregularities

Peru Raids Homes of Election Officials Over Voting Irregularities PERU Peru Peruvian police raided the homes of six election officials over the weekend, including former election chief Piero Corvetto, as part of an investigation into irregularities in the April 12 presidential vote that have deepened mistrust in the country’s electoral process. On Friday, anti-corruption officers searched the residence of a legal representative of Galaga, the company responsible for transporting ballots to polling stations, as well as Corvetto’s home. The former election chief resigned last week, taking responsibility for problems during the election and saying he wanted to “generate more confidence” ahead of the June 7 runoff. He has denied any wrongdoing. The raids follow logistical failures that forced authorities to extend voting by a day after election materials were not delivered to more than a dozen polling centers in Lima. More than 52,000 voters were unable to cast ballots as scheduled. The disruptions triggered accusations of fraud and manipulation, including from ultraconservative contender Rafael López Aliaga, who called Corvetto a “criminal.” With more than 95 percent of ballots counted, Keiko Fujimori, daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori, leads the race with at least 17 percent of the vote. Leftist former lawmaker Roberto Sánchez follows with 12.03 percent, while López Aliaga has 11.90 percent. Despite calls to hold supplementary elections in affected areas, Peru’s Electoral Tribunal rejected the proposals and urged candidates to act “responsibly,” noting that the electoral process remained ongoing. The tribunal has set a May 15 deadline to confirm which two candidates will advance to the runoff. The election takes place amid prolonged political instability: Peru has had nine presidents in the past decade, including four former leaders who have been jailed. The country has also faced persistent corruption scandals and rising violence from criminal gangs. Observers noted that the latest controversy has further eroded public confidence in Peru’s governing system, where many politicians already face low approval ratings.