BOGOTA — Polls opened in Peru on Sunday as more than 25 million voters began casting ballots in a presidential election featuring a record 35 candidates, amid efforts to end years of political instability.The vote is seen as a pivotal moment for the country, which has faced a decade of turbulence marked by frequent leadership changes and institutional deadlock.No candidate is expected to secure the more than 50% required for an outright first-round victory, raising the likelihood of a runoff on June 7.Among the frontrunners is Keiko Fujimori, leader of Fuerza Popular and daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori, making her fourth bid for the presidency.She is joined by conservative candidate Rafael Lopez Aliaga, the former mayor of Lima, and veteran media figure Ricardo Belmont, who has gained traction as an anti-establishment contender.Alongside the presidential race, Peruvians are also voting for a new bicameral legislature, marking the country’s return to a two-chamber system for the first time in more than 30 years.The new Congress will include a 60-member Senate and a 130-member Chamber of Deputies, with all lawmakers serving five-year terms.The reform is aimed at improving political stability after Peru saw eight presidents in the past decade due to repeated impeachments and political gridlock.Voting is mandatory for citizens aged 18 to 70, with polling stations open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time.Preliminary results are expected late Sunday, with authorities aiming to count around 60% of votes by midnight.
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