Keiko Fujimori Leads Peru Election Polls and Secures Runoff Spot
- Keiko Fujimori is leading the presidential election in Peru, according to exit polls and preliminary vote counts following the first round of voting on April 12, 2026.
- Exit polls indicate that Fujimori, the leader of the Fuerza Popular party, holds a lead with approximately 16 percent of the vote.
- The results suggest a highly fragmented political landscape.
Keiko Fujimori is leading the presidential election in Peru, according to exit polls and preliminary vote counts following the first round of voting on April 12, 2026. With 35 candidates competing in the race, no single candidate is expected to reach the 50 percent threshold required to win the presidency in the first round, making a runoff election likely.
Exit polls indicate that Fujimori, the leader of the Fuerza Popular party, holds a lead with approximately 16 percent of the vote. A rapid count conducted by Ipsos Peru on behalf of Transparencia, in collaboration with the NDI, showed Fujimori leading with 17.1 percent of the vote when the count had reached 95.7 percent.
The results suggest a highly fragmented political landscape. According to the Ipsos Peru rapid count, there is a triple technical tie for second place among the candidates trailing Fujimori. Major competitors include Rafael Lopez Aliaga, a businessman and former mayor of Lima, and Roberto Sanchez, a former minister of foreign trade and tourism.
Election Process and Logistical Challenges
The election has been characterized by logistical problems and chaos. While voting primarily took place on Sunday, April 12, some polling stations experienced issues, leading to planned voting on Monday, April 13, to resolve those complications.
Vote counting continued across the country into the start of the week. Reports indicated that with 37 percent of ballots counted, Fujimori maintained her lead. By Monday, April 13, Reuters reported that roughly half of the ballots remained uncounted due to the extended voting period.
The official count is being handled by the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE). As of the latest reports, the official count had reached 76.148 percent.
Political Context and Candidate Background
Keiko Fujimori is the eldest daughter of the late former President Alberto Fujimori, who died two years ago. This race marks her fourth attempt at the presidency. In her three previous bids, she was defeated in runoff elections.
During her campaign, Fujimori called for the implementation of increased security measures and an end to the political confusion that has affected Peru. The country has faced significant instability since the 2021 presidential election, during which three consecutive presidents were ousted by lawmakers.
Next Steps Toward a Runoff
Because no candidate is likely to clear the 50 percent mark in the first round, the two candidates who receive the highest number of votes will advance to a runoff election. This second round of voting is scheduled for June 2026.
Final official results are expected to take some time to finalize as the ONPE completes the tally of all ballots, including those from the polling stations that experienced issues on the initial voting day.