The second Peruvian electoral round in Spain took place with greater order and fewer inconveniences than in the first round, especially in Madrid and Barcelona, the two cities that concentrate one of the largest Peruvian communities abroad. The consular authorities highlighted logistical improvements and regulatory changes that made it possible to speed up the installation of tables and reduce the crowds registered in the past.
Spain is part of the five main voting points for Peruvians abroad, along with Italy, Chile, Argentina and the United States. As explained by Pedro Bravo, general director of Peruvian Communities Abroad and Consular Affairs, the reports received from Barcelona showed a much more favorable situation than in the first round, when long queues and delays at the start of the day were recorded.
Karen Yabar, Daniel Yan, Roberto Zavaleta and Franco Zuloeta serve as polling station members during the Peruvian election day in Barcelona. (Photo: Sabrina Yarlequé).
One of the main changes was related to the opening of tables. Bravo pointed out that previously the rules prevented citizens from other tables from collaborating when regular members were missing, which caused delays of several hours. For this election, the National Elections Jury authorized the participation of volunteers from other polling stations, a measure that allowed the installation of voting centers to be accelerated.
“I am very happy to be able to exercise this right and civic duty. I love Peru wherever I am; Peru will always be in my heart. It is true that you feel more Peruvian when you are outside”
Early in the morning, the Foreign Ministry reported 1,660 open tables out of a total of 2,506 in the world and estimated to reach between 98% and 99% operation in the following hours. The official highlighted that the modifications introduced by the JNE respond to the need to adapt the electoral rules to the particular conditions faced by Peruvians residing outside the country.
View of the surroundings of the voting station in Barcelona, where the Peruvian election day took place without the crowds registered during the first round. (Photo: Sabrina Yarlequé)
In Barcelona, voting took place in a new Fira Barcelona venue, located in front of the premises used during the first round and next to Plaza España. According to the correspondent of The Commerce In Spain, Sabrina Yarlequé, the spaciousness of the space allowed for a more fluid circulation of voters and avoided the crowding recorded in previous processes. In this center, 119 tables were set up to serve 59,222 Peruvian voters.
“I have never stopped voting, wherever I am. I remain very linked to Peru and I always try to be informed of what is happening in my country”
Outside the electoral precinct, a common scene from Peruvian days abroad was also repeated. Dozens of merchants offered traditional dishes and products such as stuffed potatoes, ceviche, causa, empanadas, tamales and chicha morada. During the afternoon, police officers temporarily removed merchandise from several street vendors due to municipal restrictions on this type of commerce, although many returned shortly after.
Peruvian voters wait their turn to vote at the facility set up in Madrid, where the day took place without crowds and with all the tables installed. (Photo: National Election Jury)
“Logistics have improved greatly compared to the first round and there are practically no crowds,” Yarlequé reported, during the Peruvian election day in Spain.
In Madrid, where the 212 tables planned for the day were installed, consular authorities reported sustained participation and no crowds. “According to the count we have, which is a special machine, it has indicated to us that in proportion so far there are many people who have come and the number of Peruvian voters is greater,” said Consul Arturo Chipoco Cáceda. The diplomat also specified that all the tables managed to be installed and that nine of them were merged as part of the electoral organization. “Currently we have installed 212 tables, that is, all the tables in Madrid,” he stated.
A Peruvian citizen casts his vote in Andalusia during election day for Peruvians residing abroad. (Photo: Consulate General of Peru in Seville).
Chipoco highlighted that the influx of voters continued during the afternoon, even driven by religious activities carried out in the center of the Spanish capital. “The influx of Peruvians continues after the mass that has just concluded in the center of Madrid and I call on you to come and vote,” he stated.
The day also took place normally in Andalusia. According to consular information, all the voting stations planned in Seville, Almería and Málaga were installed and operational before 10 am, without the need to merge them. Seville concentrated 14 tables for nearly 6,900 qualified voters; Almería, six tables for about 2,900 voters; and Malaga, four tables for approximately 1,900 Peruvian citizens.
