Peru's Presidential Election Remains Extremely Close Between Fujimori and Sánchez

With approximately 98% of ballots counted, Keiko Fujimori of the conservative Popular Force party and leftist congressman Roberto Sánchez are separated by fewer than 1,000 votes, making this one of the closest elections in Peruvian history. Sánchez led for much of the count as rural and Andean ballots came in, but Fujimori regained a narrow edge after overseas votes — where she commands roughly 63% support, and over 76% among Peruvians in the United States — were tallied. Electoral authorities say a final official result may not be declared until mid-July, as 1,635 flagged tally sheets undergo review and some face full vote-by-vote recounts. Sánchez has proposed a joint recount request, citing alleged irregularities in Lima and in overseas voting, while Fujimori has called for patience and said institutional results must be respected. The election mirrors Peru's 2021 contest, in which Sánchez's ally Pedro Castillo narrowly defeated Fujimori after weeks of counting. Surging crime, deep political instability, and sharp urban-rural and ideological divides have defined the campaign, with Fujimori promising a military-backed crackdown on crime and Sánchez advocating state-led economic reforms, windfall taxes on mining, and a new constitution. The winner will be sworn in on July 28.