The Albany Gazette - Right-winger Fujimori poised to win Peru president runoff

The election has been one of the tightest Latin American leadership contests in decades, with crime and political instability dominating a race to choose the country's ninth leader in a decade.

Keiko Fujimori's victory would mark the return of her family name to power, more than two decades after the fall of her father, former president Alberto Fujimori.

With 99.86 percent of ballots tallied, Fujimori held 50.12 percent of the vote, a margin of just over 43,000 over her leftist rival Roberto Sanchez, according to data published online by the National Office of Electoral Processes.

Before declaring a winner, election officials need to process 131 tally sheets, which represent around 39,000 votes -- an insufficient number to allow Sanchez to catch up.

Sanchez said he would not recognize a government headed by Fujimori, claiming a "serious violation of the electoral process."

Sanchez alleges administrative irregularities in the handling of the overseas vote, which represents around 300,000 ballots, by the electoral authority.

The overseas vote largely favored Fujimori, who was propelled by massive support from voters in the United States and Japan.

According to Sanchez, if votes cast abroad were excluded, he would hold a lead of around 25,000 votes over Fujimori.

He requested on Monday the annulment of these votes by the National Jury of Elections. The request was denied Tuesday.

- Deep divisions -

Fujimori's party, Fuerza Popular, said it would wait for the count to be completed before declaring victory.

The slow pace of the vote count is not unusual in Peru.

In 2021, it took nearly six weeks for the final result of the runoff to be confirmed.

The June 7 runoff pitted the 51-year-old daughter of Alberto Fujimori against Sanchez, 57, the political heir of former president Pedro Castillo.

Alberto Fujimori led Peru through the turbulent 1990s, crushing Maoist Shining Path rebels and taming hyperinflation.

But he was later disgraced, exiled and jailed for corruption and crimes against humanity.

For decades, the Fujimori name has helped and haunted Keiko, giving her instant recognition, loyal voters and deep political networks -- but also plenty of critics.

Millions of Peruvians hold dark memories of her father and refuse to vote for anyone bearing the Fujimori name, blocking her path to the presidency three times.

This was her first presidential campaign without her father, who died in 2024.

She campaigned on tackling insecurity and organized crime, while Sanchez focused his campaign on strengthening institutions and reducing inequality.

Many voters had hoped the election would draw a line under years of political chaos that has seen a string of presidents jailed, deposed and impeached.

But the tight result shows the South American nation remains deeply divided between the populous coast and the more rural, Indigenous south.

The winner will take office July 28 for a five-year term and will inherit a stable economy, with GDP growth of over three percent and low inflation.

(M.Scott--TAG)