Regarding the electoral process conducted abroad, the
on Friday reaffirmed its respect for the people’s will, the autonomy of electoral authorities, and the right of political organizations to submit any observations or appeals they deem appropriate through the corresponding legal channels.
Likewise, it rejected any claims attributing acts of interference, manipulation, political favoritism, or alteration of electoral materials to its consular officials.
"It is necessary to safeguard the honorability of consular officials, all of whom are career diplomats, who—like the Peruvian citizens who served as polling table members abroad—fulfilled their duties and responsibilities under complex operational conditions, working extended hours, in accordance with procedures established by electoral regulations and in compliance with the principles of legality, responsibility, efficiency, and institutional defense that govern the Diplomatic Service," the statement said.
The document also clarified that, "with regard to voting by Peruvian citizens residing abroad, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs performs organizational and logistical support functions through its consular offices, in coordination with electoral authorities."
The ministry emphasized that these tasks are carried out with the valuable participation of Peruvian citizens serving as polling table members and with the involvement of representatives accredited by political organizations, who contribute to the transparency and oversight of the electoral process.
"The review of polling records, the vote count, the resolution of challenges, and the proclamation of results do not fall within the responsibilities of the Foreign Affairs Ministry," it noted.
The statement detailed that, once voting abroad has concluded, the results are recorded by polling table members in the corresponding polling records, which are duly sealed to ensure their integrity. All accredited party representatives receive copies of the records.
Similarly, result notices are displayed at consular premises.
Thereafter, consular officials forward the corresponding copies of the polling records, used ballots, and voter rolls to the competent electoral authorities; meanwhile, the processing, scanning, tabulation, and consolidation of those records fall under the responsibility of the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE), in accordance with its legal mandate.
The statement also noted that, for the first electoral round, and at the request of ONPE, a polling record scanning application was implemented as a complementary measure in only 108 of the 180 consular offices that organized voting abroad.
"This application did not replace the legal procedure for the physical submission of polling records nor the powers of electoral authorities," it stated.
Meanwhile, in coordination with ONPE, it was decided not to continue with that complementary activity in the second round. This decision—the document emphasized—did not modify the Organic Elections Law, nor alter the legal procedure for the return of electoral materials, nor did it create a void in the chain of custody or a period without control over such materials.