Peru held a tense presidential run-off between right‑wing Keiko Fujimori and left‑leaning Roberto Sánchez amid protests and concerns over election administration. Fujimori led the April 12 first round with about 17% to Sánchez's roughly 12% in a 35‑candidate field. A judge ordered Sánchez to stand trial hours before the run‑off, and high abstention and protest ballots from the first round could prove decisive. Observers continue to watch for transparency after a slow, error‑prone initial count.
Peru Run-off Opens: Keiko Fujimori Faces Roberto Sánchez Amid Distrust and Protests
A man votes during the presidential election run-off in Lima, Peru [AFP]
Polls opened across Peru on Sunday as voters cast ballots in a closely watched presidential run-off between right‑wing candidate Keiko Fujimori and left‑leaning congressman Roberto Sánchez. The vote caps an election season marked by protests, administrative problems and lingering distrust after a slow and contested first round.
Background
The April 12 first round featured 35 candidates. Fujimori led that contest with roughly 17 percent of the vote, while Sánchez finished near 12 percent. Weeks of counting and certification narrowed the race to the two finalists amid logistical delays that undermined confidence in the process.
Presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori addresses supporters during a closing campaign rally in Lima, Peru [Rodrigo Abd/The Associated Press]
Candidates And Campaign Issues
Keiko Fujimori, 51, leads the right‑wing Popular Force party and has defended her family name. She was named first lady by her father, former president Alberto Fujimori, in the 1990s. Critics point to serious human rights abuses during her father’s government, including forced sterilizations of Indigenous people and extrajudicial killings attributed to death squads. Her campaign emphasizes tough‑on‑crime measures, including a proposal for a 60‑day state of emergency and a vow to 'defeat terrorism.'
Roberto Sánchez, 57, a former psychologist and brief foreign trade and tourism minister under Pedro Castillo, positions himself as a left‑leaning alternative with a focus on rural and Indigenous voters. Sánchez has proposed anti‑poverty programs, police and judicial reform, reparations for victims of Alberto Fujimori's government and a participatory process for drafting a new constitution. At times he has moderated economic positions to appeal to centrists.
Peruvian presidential candidate Roberto Sanchez addresses his supporters in Lima, Peru [Alessandro Cinque/Reuters]
Controversies And Voter Sentiment
Rafael López Aliaga, the far‑right former mayor of Lima who finished third, alleged fraud in the first round; election observers have found no evidence supporting those claims. Hours before the run‑off, a judge ordered Sánchez to stand trial over alleged past financial irregularities linked to his party — a move his supporters said amounted to political interference.
Voters interviewed by AFP expressed cautious hope and deep frustration. 'I hope the entire process is carried out transparently, that the people’s vote is respected,' said Evelyn Pazos. Craft seller Hugo Vásquez said many voters planned to choose the 'lesser evil' amid widespread complaints of disorder and corruption.
Turnout And What To Watch
About 7.16 million eligible voters did not participate in the first round of a roughly 27 million‑strong electorate. Among those who voted, approximately 12 percent cast blank ballots and about 5 percent spoiled their votes — protest options that could be decisive in the run‑off.
Observers will closely monitor vote administration and the count for transparency and speed. With Peru set to elect its ninth leader in a decade, the outcome could either continue a right‑leaning trend in the region or push the country toward a center‑left agenda focused on social reform and accountability.
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