Conservative candidate Keiko Fujimori has reclaimed a razor-thin advantage in Peru’s presidential election, moving ahead of her leftist opponent Roberto Sanchez as international ballots continue to be tallied.
According to Peru’s ONPE electoral authority, Fujimori currently holds 50.002% of the vote compared to Sanchez’s 49.998% – a margin of approximately 650 votes out of roughly 18 million cast. The count reflects results from 98.21% of polling locations.
While only a small fraction of votes remains to be processed, election officials have designated 1.76% of polling stations for judicial examination, representing around 400,000 ballots. This review process could extend for several weeks.
The majority of disputed ballots originate from Lima’s metropolitan area, which serves as Fujimori’s political base.
The race has remained extremely competitive throughout the counting process. Initial exit polling showed Fujimori ahead, while the Ipsos quick count – which has correctly predicted past elections – indicated a slight advantage for Sanchez.
Both contenders initially urged supporters to remain calm and patient during the vote counting. However, Sanchez, who had moved ahead of Fujimori earlier this week with support from rural areas, adopted a more critical stance Wednesday, requesting discussions with international observers regarding what he termed “strange, unusual and questionable developments.”
Wednesday evening saw some Sanchez supporters assemble outside Peru’s National Election Jury headquarters in downtown Lima, but authorities used water cannons to disperse the crowd.
This marks Fujimori’s fourth straight runoff election. She narrowly lost her previous two campaigns by minimal margins. In 2021, Fujimori – whose father is former president Alberto Fujimori – was defeated by now-imprisoned President Pedro Castillo by roughly 45,000 votes.
Sanchez previously held a ministerial position under Castillo and has positioned himself as the continuation of that political movement, adopting the same distinctive cowboy hat and awaiting initial results near the facility where Castillo is currently detained.
Throughout the counting period, Fujimori has made limited public comments but has consistently expressed confidence about the outcome.
