Peruvian presidential campaign raised over $5.3 million in first round

Political parties in Peru generated over 18.2 million soles ($5.3 million) in revenue and spent 15.1 million soles ($4.4 million) during the first round of the April 12 presidential elections, according to the National Electoral Processes Office (ONPE).

Of the 39 political organizations that participated, 36 submitted their financial reports on time. Alianza para el Progreso (APP) reported the highest individual financing, exceeding 7 million soles ($2 million). Paradoxically, APP's presidential candidate, César Acuña, finished 13th in the election with only 1.1% of the vote.

The ONPE report highlighted that individual contributions are the primary source of private political financing, making up 88.2% of total income. Resources from campaign activities accounted for only 2.7%. This indicates a significant reliance on contributions from authorized individuals or legal entities.

More than half of the campaign spending by 24 parties was directed towards non-propaganda activities, including transportation, venue rentals, services, and consulting. Meanwhile, financing for the bicameral Congress elections for the 2026-2031 period totaled 38.5 million soles ($11.2 million), with expenditures reported at 29.8 million soles ($8.7 million). The ONPE also noted a gender gap in Senate campaign financing, with male candidates receiving an average of $1,400 more than female candidates, and younger candidates (under 30) receiving less than half the income of older ones. Regional financing also varied, with northern and eastern regions receiving more funds than southern areas.