Before examining the electoral landscape itself, it is essential to understand a phenomenon shaping public perception: the persistent belief among many supporters of Rafael López Aliaga that national polls are manipulated, biased, or “bought.” This perception is not unique to Peru; it appears in polarized democracies worldwide. What makes it relevant in 2026 is how strongly it influences the way a segment of the electorate interprets every new survey.

Several well‑documented mechanisms in objective psychology help explain why this belief emerges and why it remains resilient even when multiple polling firms show similar trends.