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A tragic dawn for Cantagallo. The members of the Shipibo community of Cantagallo lost everything in a fire that was described as uncontrollable. The blaze consumed everything, leaving them utterly destitute. According to witnesses, it happened around midnight. A lit candle, forgotten in the market area, was likely the cause of the devastating fire. The flames spread through dozens of homes. The desperation and cries of the Shipibo community members were heartbreaking; they lost everything in a matter of minutes. At dawn, the scene was one of desolation, with bewildered families staring blankly at each other. It is estimated that the fire destroyed 280 houses, and some 480 families were left without the resources to relocate. In the following days, NGOs and social organizations donated food supplies, clothing, and tents to the affected families. The Shipibo community of Cantagallo slowly began to rebuild itself. They resettled in the same place where they arrived in the early 2000s, and it became a symbol of Amazonian culture in the city of Lima. Despite promises of reconstruction from the authorities, these proposals fell through. The efforts of the inhabitants of the Cantagallo community have been slow, and they have had to organize themselves meticulously to ensure a sustainable future for their descendants. After the tragedy, Cantagallo became a symbol of the resilience of Indigenous communities in the cities. They continue to fight to develop their territory and rebuild their culture alongside the concrete jungle of Lima.

The election brought with it a number of events, both anecdotal and scandalous. Julio Guzmán, who in the first months of the year had risen to second place in the polls, was the favorite to advance to the second round, but irregularities within his party led to the disqualification of his candidacy by the Lima Central Special Electoral Tribunal. César Acuña, owner of several universities, was also leading in the polls, but irregularities resulted in the disqualification of his candidacy as well. Meanwhile, Nano Guerra García, the candidate for National Solidarity, spent a fortune on advertising without favorable results, so he withdrew his presidential candidacy. Former president Alejandro Toledo traveled almost all of Peru to promote his proposals, but the allegations surrounding the Ecoteva case ultimately caused him to drop significantly in the polls. Two-time president Alan García, relying on his oratory skills, formed an alliance with the PPC to boost his poll numbers, but the strategy backfired, and he finished in fifth place in the election. Alfredo Barnechea, the representative of Popular Action and a disciple of Fernando Belaúnde Terry, managed to climb in the polls after the disqualifications of Guzmán and Acuña, but his attitude and some poor strategies ultimately failed to connect with the population, placing him fourth in the elections. Verónika Mendoza, of the Broad Front, after a hard-fought battle, secured third place, while Pedro Pablo Kuczynski (PPK), after some ups and downs, consolidated his second-place position, advancing to the runoff against the Popular Force candidate, Keiko Fujimori. Weeks later, after a fierce battle for votes, the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) announced the results with 100% of the votes counted, declaring Pedro Pablo Kuczynski the clear winner with 50.12% of the vote, compared to 49.88% for Keiko Fujimori, who conceded defeat a few days later.

Everyone took to the streets to protest authoritarian abuses. In 2013, thousands of students and social groups marched peacefully to Abancay Avenue to protest the university law and the publication of the civil service law. However, this led to a confrontation with law enforcement. The students and other groups decided to enter the Congress building through the surrounding streets. This sparked a violent clash with the police. Tear gas and the use of police force resulted in several injuries, both to students and civilians. There were numerous arrests of university students. The CGTP (General Confederation of Peruvian Workers) workers’ movement gained strength during the marches that same year. Abancay Avenue became a battleground between law enforcement and social and student organizations. During June and July of 2013, the term “Repartija” (a political patronage system) came to light. This system involved Congress distributing positions in the Constitutional Court, the Ombudsman’s Office, and the Central Reserve Bank in the upcoming elections. This sparked widespread outrage among Peruvian citizens. Large marches were held, involving social groups, university students, politicians, and others. On July 27 and 28, 2013, massive demonstrations were organized against the Repartija. Tensions reached a fever pitch during those days. The protests resulted in significant property damage and numerous civilian arrests. Months later, Congress repealed the resolution.