Decentralization in Peru has long been a major issue in the government agenda.^{[citation needed]}

A referendum was held on October 30, 2005 to decide whether fifteen of the current twenty-five regions will merge to form five new, larger regions. All citizens who are 18 or older and reside in the affected regions (7'234,321 persons) were entitled to vote.^{[citation needed]}

Voters overwhelmingly opposed the merge, and therefore the regions will stay the way they currently are. Another referendum was scheduled for 2011 or 2012.^{[citation needed]}

These are the new regions that were to be created if the voters had voted in favour of the merge:

1. Región Norte: Lambayeque, Piura, Tumbes
2. Región Nor Centro Oriente: Ancash, Huánuco, Junín, Lima, Pasco
3. Ica-Ayacucho-Huancavelica: Ayacucho, Huancavelica, Ica
4. Cusco-Apurímac: Apurímac, Cusco
5. Región Sur: Arequipa, Puno, Tacna