Peru's electoral tribunal (JNE) rejected a demand to re-run Lima's April 12 vote and confirmed the presidential runoff for June 7. The ruling follows claims from Rafael López Aliaga that polling problems in Lima blocked thousands of his supporters from voting. Police raided the home of former electoral chief Piero Corvetto as part of an investigation into alleged aggravated collusion. Final first-round results are expected in mid-May; with about 95% counted, Keiko Fujimori has qualified and will face either Roberto Sánchez or López Aliaga.
Peru Confirms June 7 Runoff as Electoral Tribunal Rejects Lima Re-Vote
Police have raided the home of Peru's former election body head, following a chaotic presidential vote (Handout)(Handout/Peruvian Prosecutor Office/AFP)
Peru's National Jury of Elections (JNE) on Friday rejected calls to re-run the April 12 vote in Lima and confirmed that the presidential runoff will take place on June 7. The unanimous decision followed a "technical-legal analysis" and reports from relevant authorities, the JNE said.
Ultra-conservative candidate and former Lima mayor Rafael López Aliaga — who is still seeking a place on the June ballot — had demanded a new vote in the capital, arguing that logistical problems at polling stations prevented thousands of his supporters from casting ballots.
Raids and Resignations Amid Probe
Earlier the same day, police carried out a dawn raid on the home of Piero Corvetto, the former head of the country’s electoral authority, who resigned this week amid the chaotic presidential contest. Authorities said searches were also conducted at premises linked to other former officials from the Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) and to representatives of the company that transported election equipment.
Police statement: The investigation, focused on alleged aggravated collusion, aims to uncover illicit agreements that may have compromised public resources.
Corvetto resigned on Tuesday, hours before prosecutors were due to question him about the problems surrounding the April 12 election. Election day was marred by logistical failures in Lima that delayed voting for tens of thousands of people until the following day and slowed the ballot count.
Where Things Stand
Officials say final results from the first round will not be released until mid-May. With about 95 percent of ballots tallied, right-wing leader Keiko Fujimori has already qualified for the second round. She will face either leftist Roberto Sánchez or Rafael López Aliaga, with Sánchez narrowly ahead in the most recent count.
The European Union's observer mission reported "serious shortcomings" during the vote but added it had not found "objective evidence" of fraud.
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