Keiko Fujimori has secured victory in Peru’s presidential election after the vote count reached a point where her lead can no longer be overturned. With 99.8% of ballots counted, Fujimori holds 50.1% of the vote, compared with 49.8% for left-wing rival Roberto Sánchez, leaving her ahead by approximately 43,386 votes.
The final result comes 17 days after the election and after a slow counting process that intensified political uncertainty. Although electoral authorities must still resolve challenges involving 0.2% of the vote before formally declaring the winner, Fujimori’s advantage is considered mathematically insurmountable. Her official proclamation is scheduled for July 28.
Fujimori, 51, will become Peru’s next president and the country’s first elected female head of state. She previously ran for the presidency three times and is the daughter of former president Alberto Fujimori, whose political legacy remains one of the most divisive issues in Peru. Her campaign relied heavily on references to her father’s record, particularly his fight against terrorism during the 1990s, while opponents have highlighted his authoritarian rule, corruption convictions, and human rights violations.
Her victory comes in a deeply divided country that has experienced years of political instability. Peru has had multiple presidents in recent years who failed to complete their terms, and Fujimori’s return to power is expected to face strong opposition from anti-Fujimori movements and left-wing groups.
Sánchez has refused to recognize Fujimori’s victory, claiming that electoral irregularities affected the result. He has demanded a recount and challenged decisions by electoral bodies that rejected his requests to annul some overseas voting records. According to Sánchez, the handling of foreign ballots created opportunities for manipulation, though he has not presented evidence supporting his fraud allegations. Electoral authorities have so far dismissed his claims.
The dispute follows a tense election period marked by accusations of irregularities during the campaign and uncertainty caused by the delayed vote count. Sánchez has called for mobilizations by supporters, particularly in regions where he received strong backing.
Security concerns were central to Fujimori’s campaign. Running under the slogan “Fujimori Returns, Order Returns,” she focused on rising crime, including homicides and extortion affecting small businesses and transport workers. She proposed measures including military-supported street patrols, deportation of immigrants convicted of crimes, and prison labor programs.
The election result also places Fujimori in a challenging governing position. Her party, Fuerza Popular, holds the largest bloc in Congress, but she will need alliances to advance legislation. She will also face the task of governing a country where nearly half of voters supported her opponent.
The overseas vote played a significant role in Fujimori’s narrow victory, particularly ballots from the United States, which has the largest Peruvian community outside the country. Her supporters argue that her policies offer a response to Peru’s security crisis, while opponents continue to challenge her political return and the legacy associated with her family name.
As Fujimori prepares to take office, Peru enters another period of political confrontation, with unresolved disputes over the election outcome and deep divisions between supporters and critics of the Fujimori movement.
