Peru Presidential Election: Delays and Tight Race for Runoff Spot

Pressure is mounting on Peru’s election authorities as the vote count from the April 12 general election remains incomplete, delaying the determination of who will face conservative frontrunner Keiko Fujimori in the June 7 presidential runoff.

As of Friday, with 93.3 percent of ballots counted, Fujimori leads with 17 percent of the vote, positioning her for the runoff. The race for second place remains extremely tight, with leftist candidate Roberto Sánchez of the Together for Peru party at 12.0 percent and ultraconservative former Lima Mayor Rafael López Aliaga of the Popular Renewal party at 11.9 percent — a separation of approximately 13,000 votes.

The delay has intensified scrutiny on Peru’s National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE), particularly its head, Piero Corvetto. Supporters of Sánchez have demonstrated outside ONPE offices, calling for his removal amid allegations of errors and logistical problems during the election. Complaints have been compounded by a slow tally that has rattled investor confidence and heightened political uncertainty.

Local election-monitoring group Transparencia has indicated that final results could take up to two weeks to be completed. The general election was held on Sunday, April 12, but an extension was granted to accommodate difficulties in ballot distribution.

Sánchez, who served as minister of foreign trade and tourism in the administration of former President Pedro Castillo, has gained attention for his wide-brimmed peasant hat, which he says signals his support for Castillo. In interviews, he has emphasized his intention to broaden Peru’s economic ties if elected.

López Aliaga, a prominent businessman and former mayor of Lima, represents a sharply contrasting vision for the country. His campaign has appealed to conservative and business-oriented voters, positioning himself as a bulwark against what he describes as excesses of the left.

The prolonged vote count has unfolded against a backdrop of deep political fragmentation and public distrust in institutions, marking another chapter in Peru’s recurring cycles of electoral controversy and governance instability.