53% Turnout as Peruvians in Andorra Vote for First Time at Local Consulate

Peruvian residents in Andorra turned out in strong numbers for their country's general elections on Sunday, with 130 of 244 eligible voters—53% turnout—casting ballots at the newly opened honorary consulate in Andorra la Vella. The event marked the first on-site voting for locals, sparing them the previous trip to Barcelona.

The census began at 247 but dropped to 244 after three deaths, honorary consul Jaume Tàpies explained. Voting remains compulsory in Peru for those aged 18 to 70, though the requirement softens for citizens abroad. Nearly 1,000 Peruvians live in Andorra, but many missed the April 2025 registration cutoff as they had not yet moved. Late arrivals can avoid fines by documenting their relocation.

Polling staff formed the station at 6am, with doors open from 7am to 5pm. Voters faced a single large ballot for five races: president and vice-president (35 options), national senators, overseas regional senators, overseas deputies, and Andean parliament congress members. Over 300 combinations were possible, requiring careful marking with crosses or ticks in private booths before depositing ballots in the urn. Peruvian rules prohibited photos inside voting areas. Steady lines built up as officials verified IDs, census listings, and registrations.

Tàpies called the day festive, with high satisfaction and steady crowds. Voters arrived in groups, chatted afterward, and used the occasion to inquire about consulate services. Many sought details on trámites still routed through Barcelona, such as passport renewals. Tàpies noted that approvals from Peru are imminent—pending validation and retraining—to enable those locally by June. He gathered contacts for WhatsApp updates on progress. The modern facility, which also hosts some of his hotel businesses, doubled as a community hub, its door constantly opening for consultations.

A representative from the Peruvian embassy in Madrid supervised, tallied votes on site, and transported them to Barcelona for aggregation with other consulates' results, expected soon. No first-round presidential winner is likely amid the fragmented field; the vote will select second-round contenders.

Key candidates included Keiko Fujimori of Fuerza Popular, conservative Rafael López-Aliaga of Renovación Popular, comedian Carlos Álvarez of País para Todos, veteran Ricardo Belmont of Partido Cívico Obras, and left-wing Roberto Sánchez of Juntos por el Perú, an ally of former president Pedro Castillo.

Voters expressed hopes for security and economic shifts to stem emigration. One hoped change would let people stay in Peru. Another thanked Andorra for opportunities but said she might return home if conditions improved, stressing that "voting requires thought." A young voter with children remarked that the long candidate lists push people toward familiar names.