Reform of eligibility for elected public office in Peru

Abstract

This article examines eligibility to run for elected public office in Peru. Using a qualitative approach and documentary analysis, constitutional provisions, electoral legislation, and specialized studies were reviewed to reconstruct the basis for admission and identify the risks of an overly formal access model. It was found that, while manageable, the existing framework does not adequately address the substantive demands of public authority amid recurring legitimacy deficits and performance concerns. It is recommended to maintain the formal thresholds and add proportionate conditions in four pillars: (i) capacity, through broadly defined professional training; (ii) integrity, through grounds for disqualification linked to formally established results for serious ethical misconduct and criminal records; (iii) accountability, through pre-election transparency obligations, such as a government plan, disclosure of a technical team, and sworn statements of assets and income; and (iv) representative authenticity, through the reinforcement of verification of actual and habitual residence. It is concluded that reforms are only viable with evidence-based verification, due process guarantees, and reviewable decisions that limit discretion and preserve equality.