The democratic machinery was grinding at full speed across the globe on Thursday. In Peru, the country braced for its 2026 general elections with the Contraloría deploying 1,200 auditors to supervise the delivery of electoral materials nationwide. The political temperature was high: former prime minister Salvador del Solar publicly announced he would vote for Roberto Sánchez, warning that “giving Fuerza Popular control of the Executive is a risk.” Sánchez himself went on the offensive against rival Keiko Fujimori in a blistering final message, declaring: “She betrayed her own father — why wouldn’t she betray you?”
Halfway around the world in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan’s semi-autonomous northern region, the Election Commission announced the end of all campaign activities 48 hours before polling day on June 7. The general elections for GB’s legislative assembly had already been delayed by four months, adding tension to what was already a closely watched vote. Under Section 182 of the Elections Act, no rallies, processions, or public gatherings would be permitted in the final countdown.
Meanwhile, in Greece, the political landscape was shifting in dramatic fashion. Former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras delivered a speech in Heraklion, Crete, that dropped four heavy hints about launching a new political party — attacking both current PM Mitsotakis and opposition leader Tsipras as empty communicators lacking ideological substance, declaring that “in battles for the homeland, there is no retirement,” and insisting that the centre-right New Democracy base has been left “unrepresented.” Analysts expect a formal announcement closer to elections, possibly by autumn. Separately, Maria Karistianou, president of the “Hope for Democracy” party born from the Tempi train disaster tragedy, told Greek television that Tsipras was “the most convenient opponent for Mitsotakis” and that voters would grant her movement a governing majority.
And in Colombia, pop superstar Shakira was forced to publicly shut down fabricated campaign images showing her supporting presidential candidates, stating flatly: “I do not support any candidate, nor have I authorized the use of my image in any campaign.”
