Jorge Nieto Montesinos, the presidential candidate for the Partido del Buen Gobierno, expressed confidence in his prospects for a runoff following the initial flash electoral results for Peru’s 2026 General Elections. According to data from the polling firm Datum, Nieto secured 11.6% of the vote.
While these figures are not official counts, Nieto remained optimistic about advancing to the second round. “I expect we will reach the second round,” he stated during a first public pronouncement on April 13, 2026.
A Technical Profile in a Fragmented Field
Nieto enters the race as a figure with significant state experience, having previously served as both the Minister of Culture and the Minister of Defense under the administration of Pedro Pablo Kuczynski. His candidacy is positioned as a technical alternative to more confrontational political discourses, focusing on institutional reform, the strengthening of the state, and a crackdown on insecurity.
This positioning has seen his polling numbers rise in the weeks leading up to the election, moving from the “others” category to approximately 5%, placing him within four percentage points of the second-place candidate.
The Partido del Buen Gobierno
Founded by Nieto in 2023, the Partido del Buen Gobierno utilizes a visual identity rooted in Andean iconography. The party’s symbol—a red sun with human features on a yellow background—is inspired by the drawings of the indigenous chronicler Guamán Poma de Ayala, aiming to link the organization to Peru’s pre-Hispanic cultural origins.
The candidate’s platform includes the creation of a sovereign wealth fund and the deployment of an elite command to combat crime, as detailed in his government plan. These proposals underscore a strategy of combining technical governance with aggressive security measures to address public discontent.
The emergence of Nieto as a viable contender reflects a broader trend of voter disillusionment with the traditional political class in Peru, as the electorate seeks candidates who can offer stability and institutional expertise.
