Peru's ONPE appoints sole candidate Carlos Loyola after JNJ interview

The Junta Nacional de Justicia (JNJ) held a final interview with Carlos Loyola Escajadillo, the only remaining contender for chief of the Oficina Nacional de Procesos Electorales (ONPE). The interview took place in mid‑June, with Loyola presenting a work plan for the 2026‑2030 term and addressing the agency’s recent credibility challenges.

Loyola criticised the failure of the Solución Tecnológica de Apoyo al Escrutinio (STAE) in the last general election, noting that the ONPE spent more than 41 million soles on laptops and printers that were never used. He also highlighted a five‑fold rise in election‑material deployment costs, which he deem disproportionate to inflation. To avoid repeat mistakes, he pledged audits of any new technology and said no equipment would be purchased without successful pilot testing.

The JNJ had previously excluded Loyola over omitted civil‑court cases but reinstated him after a reconsideration request, with a split vote among magistrates. The other finalist, Amparo Ortega Campana, withdrew for health reasons, leaving Loyola as the sole candidate. The JNJ scheduled the oath‑taking ceremony for 16 July 2026, confirming the continuation of the selection process ahead of the regional and municipal elections slated for 4 October.