Lima mayoral election faces legal debate over potential second round

A legal debate has emerged regarding the mayoral election in Lima Metropolitana over whether a second-round runoff is required. Because the Municipality of Lima holds competencies equivalent to a regional government, experts and candidates are questioning which electoral rules should apply.

Under standard municipal rules, the candidate with the most votes wins regardless of percentage. However, regional governor elections in Peru require a candidate to surpass a 30% threshold of valid votes to avoid a runoff. Former congressman Jano Montoya noted that the city's special regime creates ambiguity regarding this requirement.

According to ONPE results with 92.843% of ballots counted, Rafael López Aliaga of Renovación Popular leads with 27.706% of the votes, followed by Francis Allison of Avanza País with 26.838%. Allison has expressed support for the legal argument that a second round should occur since no candidate has reached the 30% threshold.