Peru electoral law expert warns of transparency gaps in party funding

Electoral law expert Martín D’Azevedo has raised concerns regarding legal loopholes in Peru’s electoral system following reports of confidential political contributions. D’Azevedo highlighted issues involving parties such as Fuerza Popular and Juntos por el Perú, noting that current regulations may undermine transparency and equal playing fields during elections.

Specifically, D’Azevedo addressed funds collected via the Yape platform by the Juntos por el Perú party. He argued that these funds should have been included in the official campaign income and expenditure reports, as they were received while the reporting period was still active. He noted that the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) could initiate administrative sanctions if it determines the resources were not correctly declared.

In response, former presidential candidate Roberto Sánchez clarified that the funds collected through Yape after the 2026 general elections were not campaign contributions. Sánchez stated the money was used exclusively to cover legal fees and taxes related to electoral appeals filed after the second round. He maintained that the party's treasurer has already reported these movements to ONPE and that the funds were properly accounted for as administrative expenses rather than campaign donations.