The government on Friday reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening democracy during the 2026 General Elections this Sunday, April 12, deploying more than 100,000 Armed Forces and National Police personnel and setting up over 2,000 polling tables abroad.
In an address to the nation, Cabinet Chief Luis Arroyo, accompanied by Minister Carlos Diaz (Defense), Jose Zapata (Interior), and Hugo de Zela (Foreign Affairs), as well as the General Commanders of the Armed Forces, Army General Cesar Briceño, and the National Police, Lieutenant General Oscar Arriola, said the electoral process will be conducted with full respect for voters' will.
He added that security forces will be deployed to ensure that more than 27 million Peruvians can exercise their right to vote freely and safely.
In that regard, the Prime Minister recalled that since President Jose Balcazar took office, he has been committed to working on three key pillars: citizen security, economic continuity, and democratic transition.
Under the latter pillar—he said—citizens are guaranteed the right to vote in a peaceful and transparent environment.
"We are guaranteeing an electoral process with full respect for democracy. We have contributed, in a committed manner, to the organization of the election day. The electoral bodies, the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) and the National Elections Board (JNE), as well as the National Registry of Identification and Civil Status (RENIEC), have had our full support to carry out the current process," Arroyo stated, after reiterating that the government maintains unrestricted respect for the autonomy of electoral system bodies.
The Prime Minister also stressed that inclusive measures have been adopted to ensure that citizens in the most remote areas can vote.
"We recognize the fundamental role of each citizen, the true protagonist of that day; therefore, we have adopted measures to guarantee their participation in rural areas of deep Peru and hard-to-reach areas. This is an inclusive process, where no one should be excluded," he emphasized.
Armed Forces, Police, and Foreign Affairs
In turn, Defense Minister Carlos Diaz reaffirmed the Armed Forces' commitment to constitutional order.
Likewise, the Cabinet member reported that approximately 45,000 personnel and 10,338 patrols have been deployed nationwide to safeguard more than 10,000 polling places, ensuring the protection of electoral officials and the custody of voting materials under permanent monitoring with full respect for human rights.
"Our work is neutral, transparent, and non-deliberative, aimed at ensuring elections in peace, order, and full respect for the will of the Peruvian people," he expressed.
In the same vein, Interior Minister Jose Zapata said more than 61,000 police agents will be deployed during election day to protect the vote and ensure the process proceeds without incident.
To that end, the National Police is carrying out security operations at polling places and providing protection to both candidates and the population, ensuring public order during the elections.
Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister Hugo de Zela highlighted the Foreign Affairs Ministry's role in ensuring that the electoral process abroad is conducted with transparency, efficiency, and reliability.
In that regard, he said 114 consular offices will guarantee the right to vote for more than 1.1 million Peruvians living abroad. Thus, 2,497 polling tables will be set up outside the country.
Orderly elections
In turn, the Prime Minister called on more than 27 million eligible voters to go to the polls in an orderly and responsible manner this Sunday, April 12, highlighting that a conscious and informed vote strengthens democracy and helps ensure the process is conducted with the civic spirit Peru requires at this decisive moment.
The Cabinet chief also acknowledged the presence of the international community and electoral observation missions, whose involvement strengthens the transparency and legitimacy of the process before the world.
"Democracy does not end with the act of voting; it is strengthened by respect for the will of the people and by the responsibility of all stakeholders to contribute to the country's stability," he pointed out.
The General Elections will be held on April 12, 2026, with a potential runoff for the presidential race scheduled for June 7 of the same year.
This electoral process will allow citizens to go to the polls to choose the next President of the Republic, Vice Presidents, Senators, Deputies, and Representatives to the Andean Parliament.