The attempted assassination of Peruvian presidential hopeful Rafael Belaunde has dramatically escalated the campaign season, with the latest update revealing that the politician not only survived the gun attack but also returned fire at his assailants.
The incident, which occurred late Tuesday in the town of Cerro Azul, about 130 kilometers south of the capital Lima, is being condemned across the political spectrum as a brutal sign of the deteriorating security environment ahead of the April 2026 general elections.
The details of the attack underscore the brazen nature of criminal and political violence currently sweeping Peru. The target was Rafael Belaunde (50), a former Energy Minister, founder of the Libertad Popular (Popular Liberty) party, and grandson of two-term ex-president Fernando Belaunde.
Police Chief General Oscar Arriola confirmed that two gunmen on a motorbike intercepted Belaunde’s SUV, firing “eight or nine” shots at the vehicle.
In a stunning detail, police reported that Belaunde, who was driving the car, used his personal weapon to fire “at least 12 shots” back at the attackers. No gunshot injuries were reported on either side, suggesting the gunmen quickly fled after Belaunde retaliated.
Belaunde was left bloodied but not seriously hurt, sustaining facial cuts from broken glass after three bullets shattered the front windshield.
Though Belaunde is not currently a frontrunner in the polls, the attack has sent a chilling message to all candidates.
Belaunde told police he had not received any threats prior to the attack, making the motive unclear. However, party colleagues are quick to label it an act of “electoral violence” and a “bad start” to the campaign.
The incident occurs against the backdrop of a severe surge in organized crime, graft, and extortion, problems that have already led to widespread protests and multiple presidential ousters in recent years. This violence is not limited to politics; bus drivers have also been killed for refusing to pay protection money.
Rival candidates, including poll leaders Keiko Fujimori and Rafael Lopez Aliaga, strongly condemned the attack, with Fujimori stating, “We cannot normalize these criminal acts, which must be combated with the full force of the law.”
The head of Peru’s electoral court has called on the government to “provide guarantees to presidential candidates” and actively stop the violence ahead of the April elections.
