Fujimori Clings to Narrow Lead as Peru Vote Count Tightens

Lima-Peru’s conservative presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori held a slim lead on Monday in the country’s closely contested runoff election, with more than 90% of ballots counted and the race remaining too close to call.

Official election results showed Fujimori securing 50.48% of the vote, while left-wing congressman Roberto Sanchez trailed with 49.52%, leaving a margin of fewer than 200,000 votes between the two candidates.

The tight contest mirrors Peru’s deeply polarized political landscape and recalls the razor-thin 2021 presidential election, when Fujimori narrowly lost to former president Pedro Castillo after weeks of disputes over vote counts and legal challenges.

Early exit polling released by polling firm Ipsos on Sunday had placed Sanchez ahead with 50.3% support compared with Fujimori’s 49.7%, a difference the pollster described as statistically insignificant.

Analysts noted that vote counting patterns could still influence the final outcome. Ballots from the capital, Lima, where Fujimori enjoys stronger support, are generally processed earlier, while Sanchez is expected to gain votes from rural regions whose results typically arrive later.

Fujimori, daughter of former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori, is seeking the presidency after several unsuccessful bids. Sanchez has built his campaign on support from rural and lower-income voters, positioning himself as an alternative to Peru’s traditional political establishment.

Election authorities continued tallying the remaining ballots on Monday, with the final result expected to depend on late-counted votes from remote parts of the country.