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Over 30 Peruvian Lawmakers Switch Parties to Seek 2026 Re-Election

Critics depict the wave as a corporatist bid to carry today’s congressional power into the next term.

Overview

  • Diario Sin Fronteras reports that 35 sitting members are running in 2026 with parties different from those that originally brought them to Congress, many seeking re-election or another national post.
  • The shifts follow a legislature marked by frequent bench migrations and fractures, now reflected in electoral lists that feature new labels for familiar figures.
  • Defections span Peru Libre, Acción Popular, Juntos por el Perú, Renovación Popular, Alianza para el Progreso and Fuerza Popular, with notable names cited across multiple new tickets.
  • Some candidates opted for organizations offering active registration, nationwide presence or better list placement, while others moved to new coalitions aiming to capitalize on voter discontent with Congress.
  • La República’s opinion coverage cites very high re-election bids across several parties and argues that “electoral recycling” functions as self-protection and risks reproducing the current legislature’s influence.