Peru's Close Election
Fujimori Holds Slim Lead Over Sánchez in Peru's Presidential Exit Poll, Final Count Pending
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Peru's presidential runoff ended Sunday in a razor-thin photo finish. Exit polls released at 5:05 PM local time show Keiko Fujimori leading Roberto Sánchez by less than one percentage point, creating what analysts call an *empate técnico* — a technical tie — according to Gestión and El Peruano. The official count will take days to complete.
Ipsos put the race at 50.7% for Fujimori and 49.3% for Sánchez. Datum placed the gap at just 1.06 points — 50.53% to 49.47%. Both margins fall well inside the standard 3-point polling error, meaning either candidate could ultimately win, according to Infobae.
A Fourth Run for Fujimori, a Familiar Cliffhanger
Keiko Fujimori, 51, is running for president for the fourth time under her Fuerza Popular party. Roberto Sánchez, 57, is a psychologist and former minister under the ousted Pedro Castillo. The two advanced from a crowded first round on April 12 where Fujimori took 17.2% and Sánchez took 12.0% out of 35 candidates, according to Andina.
The road to Sunday's vote was rocky. Logistical failures at ONPE — Peru's election authority — led to its chief resigning after the first round. The JNE did not officially confirm the two finalists until May 17, according to El Comercio. Fujimori told supporters she would run "a technocratic government of only five years" focused on reconciliation, as quoted by Caretas.
North Votes Keiko, South Votes Sánchez — Peru Splits Again
The geographic divide is stark. Fujimori dominates Lima and the northern coast. Sánchez leads in the rural Highlands and the south, according to Infobae. It is the same fault line that split Peru in 2016 and again in 2021, when Pedro Castillo beat Fujimori by less than half a point after weeks of counting.
Sánchez has leaned hard into Castillo's legacy — including wearing the former president's signature straw hat at rallies. Conservative outlets call it a "provocation." Rural media call it a "symbol of identity" for neglected provinces, according to Misión PolÃtica. Sánchez himself called on Fujimori to "accept the electoral results," naming her "the lady of chaos," as reported by La República.
Fraud Claims Emerge Before Votes Are Even Counted
Three poll workers were arrested in Los Olivos at 2:55 PM for allegedly pre-marking ballots, according to TVPerú. Right-wing figures, led by former Lima mayor Rafael López Aliaga, have already questioned the JNE's neutrality. They allege a "systemic plan" to favor the left, according to La República.
International observers from the EU and OAS found no evidence of coordinated fraud. The NGO Transparencia agreed, noting that while April's first round had real logistical errors, no organized cheating has been proven, according to Swissinfo. National police are already deployed in "Red Zones" in Puno and Cusco to prevent unrest.
What a Winner Inherits: Fragile Congress, Shaky Economy
Peru has had nine presidents in ten years, according to El PaÃs. The next leader will face a fragmented bicameral Congress — restored for the first time in over 30 years — with no party holding a clear majority. Constitutional expert MarÃa Antonieta Gonzáles warned the winner will face a "legitimacy crisis from day one" since the top two candidates together got less than 30% in the first round, as quoted by Infobae.
The policy stakes are real. Fujimori wants 6% GDP growth by 2031 through private investment. Sánchez proposes a new constitution and a 25% tax on mining profits, which could rattle markets. Analysts warn the Peruvian Sol could fall sharply if Sánchez holds his late surge, according to IntereconomÃa. Official results could take several days, especially as rural ballots from Sánchez strongholds arrive last.
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