highlighted that Peruvian State media outlets provided more balanced and neutral news coverage during the 2026 General Elections.
Corrado noted that these outlets gave candidates space to present their proposals rather than promoting rhetoric against them.
In its final report, the EU EOM noted that, while State media outlets provided "balanced and neutral coverage," most domestic media outlets provided biased coverage that limited the diversity of information available to voters to cast an informed vote.
"State media outlets provided balanced and neutral coverage of the campaign. By contrast, private media outlets showed greater bias, which became more evident during the presidential runoff by portraying Roberto Sanchez in a predominantly negative light and thus contributing to polarization," the report emphasized.
In said document, the EU EOM noted that news reports and editorial programs published by the Official Gazette El Peruano were 100% neutral toward then-presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori (Popular Force Party), as well as her opponent Roberto Sanchez (Together for Peru).
The mission reached this conclusion after conducting media monitoring that covered six television channels, three radio stations, and six newspapers.
The purpose of monitoring was to assess whether the media provided balanced and impartial information about candidates.
"The amount of time given to each candidate was analyzed, but also the quality of the type of information given to one compared with the other, as well as the space given to information against someone. So, we have observed that the type of information has been more balanced," European Parliament member Annalisa Corrado told Andina News Agency.
The EU EOM noted that public media outlets maintain a significant presence in the country through the National Institute of Radio and Television of Peru (IRTP), which includes TV Peru and Radio Nacional, as well as the Official Gazette El Peruano and Andina News Agency, which are part of the Peruvian Editorial Services Company (Editora Peru).
Recommendations
When presenting the report, EU EOM Head Annalisa Corrado noted that despite some logistical shortcomings that hampered the organization of the election's first round, "Peru demonstrated a strong commitment to democratic values."
Corrado said that, after several months of work, the mission is proposing 18 recommendations to Peru that could serve as a roadmap for more transparent, inclusive, and reliable future electoral processes.
She added that their implementation requires "all parties involved in the electoral process to demonstrate political will and maintain constructive dialogue."
Of the recommendations issued, the observer mission highlighted the following six as priorities.
1. Legal framework: Review the legal framework to eliminate inconsistencies, overlaps, and unenforceable provisions, optimize deadlines, and consolidate all electoral legislation into an electoral code and an electoral procedural code.
2. Election organization: Prevent staff shortages and resignations by increasing the National Office of Electoral Processes' (ONPE) resources to hire, train, and adequately compensate temporary staff at the national and subnational levels.
3. Electoral campaign: Urge the competent authorities to promptly condemn hate speech, threats of violence, incitement to violence, and intolerant rhetoric in electoral discourse, taking measures to put an end to these practices.
4. Media: Ensure effective protection for journalists against attacks, threats, and intimidation by promptly and effectively investigating all attacks against media professionals and taking action against rhetoric by public officials and candidates that may incite hostility toward such professionals.
5. Electoral technologies: Expand the use of digital tools to prevent minor inconsistencies in electoral records, streamline their processing, improve their traceability, and reduce delays in the final results proclamation.
6. Election Day: Simplify the closing procedures and reduce the number of copies of the electoral record required under the Organic Elections Law to ease the workload of polling table members and reduce the number of challenged electoral records.
The EU EOM's Final Report and its recommendations will be discussed in depth with electoral authorities, elected lawmakers, and other electoral stakeholders during a discussion to be held in Lima on August 19. The full document is available at the
following link.
(END) RAI/CVC/MVB
Publicado: 18/8/2026