A little more than a year after the 2026 general electionin which Peru will elect a president and, after returning to bicameralityto senators and deputies, a national survey reveals what will be the decisive issues that citizens expect to see reflected in the proposals of political parties.
The study was carried out by Ipsos Perucommissioned by the Peruvian University of Applied Sciences (UPC)during November 2025and collects the perception of more than 1,000 people in different regions of the country.
An electorate marked by distrust
The survey shows a disconnection between citizens and the current political offer. When asked what word best describes his attitude towards candidates and parties, the 75.9% He chose terms with negative connotations.
This feeling is slightly less in Lima (72.4%)but more marked in the interior of the country (78.5%).
The most mentioned words were “mistrust” (24%)followed by “disappointment or disillusionment” (13.2%), “confusion” (9.6%) and “doubt or uncertainty” (8.5%). There are also sensations such as indifference (3.6%)he dislike (3.5%) and the tiredness (2.5%).
Caution regarding the electoral process
The study also reflects a climate of caution regarding the political future of the country. A 34.6% of those surveyed say they feel “doubtful” about the 2026 elections, while a 31.1% He declares himself “not very confident.” Just one 4.7% He says he feels “very optimistic.”
Regarding the perception of the immediate future, the idea of stagnation predominates: the 48.2% considers that the situation in the country “will remain the same” next year. This perception is greater in regions (52%) than in Lima (43%).
Furthermore, a 23.8% believes that the country could decline in 2026, slightly surpassing the 21.4% waiting for an improvement.
Security, corruption and economy: the priorities
When asked about the issues that are of most concern for next year, citizens were clear:
- Citizen insecurity: 41.8%
- Corruption and politics: 27.4%
- Economy and employment: 23 %
Other topics, such as education (4.8%) and environment (1.9%)appear relegated in the face of the urgency of security and economic stability.
Call to attention to political parties
For Eduardo Hernando Nieto, director of the Political Science degree at the UPCthe results represent a clear warning for political organizations.
“This photograph of public opinion allows us to understand the starting point of citizens before the formal start of the campaign and provides input to read the demands that could mark the debate in the coming months,” he said.
The specialist added that the electorate faces the 2026 elections with prudencefocused on specific problems such as securitythe corruption and the employmentand warned that the candidates must let go of empty rhetoric if they seek to connect with citizens.
