Peru Votes for 35 Presidents in One Day to Escape Chaos

Peruvians voted Sunday in a unique election to choose both a new president and a new congress. The country hopes this double vote will break a cycle of political instability that has seen six presidents in eight years. The key change is the return of a two-chamber congress. Peru has had only one chamber since 1993. Experts say the old system made it too easy for lawmakers to remove a president. Now, with two separate groups of lawmakers, it will be harder to start an impeachment. The goal is to give the next president a full five-year term. Voters faced a crowded field of 35 presidential candidates. The winner will lead a nation struggling with economic problems and widespread public distrust in government. The election is seen as a direct response to recent turmoil. Three of Peru's past presidents have been impeached by congress since 2018, and another is in prison.