LIMA, Peru — Authorities in Peru conducted searches Friday at the residence of the country’s former election agency director, who stepped down from his position this week while facing scrutiny over voting problems during April’s presidential contest.
Anti-corruption investigators announced through social media that officers and legal officials searched the properties of Piero Corvetto, multiple former election workers, and a representative from Galaga, the firm contracted to deliver voting materials to polling locations throughout Lima, the nation’s capital.
In correspondence to Peruvian officials, Corvetto rejected any allegations of misconduct but explained that the voting difficulties experienced during the election led to his decision to step down to “generate more confidence” ahead of the June 7 runoff election.
Attorney Ricardo Sánchez, representing Corvetto, informed local radio that Judge Manuel Chuyo authorized the search while denying prosecutors’ request to detain his client.
The April 12 voting had to continue for an extra day when the election agency couldn’t get voting supplies to more than a dozen locations in Lima, an issue that stopped over 52,000 citizens from voting when scheduled.
The situation drew sharp criticism, particularly from ultraconservative candidate Rafael López Aliaga, who alleged without supporting proof that Peru experienced an “electoral fraud unique in the world,” calling Corvetto a “criminal” and promising to pursue him “until he dies.”
A European Union electoral observation team called on political figures to avoid inflammatory language and found no evidence suggesting fraud occurred.
Based on 95.1% of votes counted, Keiko Fujimori, the conservative daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori who was later disgraced, held the lead Friday with 17.05% of votes, while nationalist Roberto Sánchez had 12.03% and López Aliaga captured 11.90%.
Peru’s election court set a May 15 deadline to formally announce which two candidates will compete in the presidential runoff.
