Peruvian congressional transparency and ethics issues

In August 2026, the Ethics Commission of the Peruvian Congress unanimously approved a rule requiring members to disclose their criminal and judicial backgrounds, as well as any previous investigations or professional suspensions, before entering Parliament. Proposed by Deputy Javier Cipriani, the measure was intended to promote transparency and ensure the suitability of members to maintain public confidence.

By mid-September 2026, investigations revealed that several members of the bicameral Congress across multiple parties—including Fuerza Popular, Juntos por el Perú, Ahora Nación, and Renovación Popular—have hired campaign donors as parliamentary advisors and technicians. Some staff members receive monthly salaries of up to 14,000 soles. Specific allegations involve high-ranking officials, including Senate President Miguel Ángel Torres and Vice President Nilza Chacón, as well as deputies such as Jesús Pérez Alccahuamán and Javier Cipriani. For instance, Pérez Alccahuamán employs a staffer who contributed over 5,000 soles to his campaign, while Cipriani’s lead advisor earns more than 14,000 soles after contributing 4,590 soles to his candidacy.

Further scrutiny in late September focused on Fuerza Popular legislators, including Alejandro Aguinaga and Marco Miyashiro, regarding the hiring of major donors. Additionally, Senator Karla Schaefer faced allegations concerning a S/20,000 donation from a representative of the mining company The Mine Key S.A.C. While Schaefer denied receiving funds from mining enterprises, official electoral financing records from ONPE confirmed the transaction involving representative Francisco Manuel Pedraza Ferreyros.

In early October 2026, new allegations emerged involving Diego Alonso Fernando Bazán Calderón, a Renovación Popular deputy from the La Libertad region, who reportedly hired the child of a couple that contributed 10,000 soles to his campaign. These findings come amid rising public disapproval of the legislature, with critics suggesting such hiring strategies may be intended to bypass transparency requirements set by the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE).