The vote count was lengthy, the result is tight. In her fourth attempt, Keiko Fujimori has won the presidential election in Peru, with only a few votes separating her from leftist Sánchez.
Keiko Fujimori, the right-wing candidate, narrowly won the presidential election in Peru following a prolonged vote count. The 51-year-old secured 50.13% of the votes, according to the country’s electoral authority. The runoff election took place over three weeks ago on June 7.
Her opponent, leftist Roberto Sánchez, received 49.86%, with a mere 49,641 votes separating the two candidates in a country with 27 million eligible voters. Sánchez had announced previously that he would not recognize the election results.
Daughter of Convicted Ex-President Alberto Fujimori
Fujimori is the daughter of the late ex-president Alberto Fujimori. Her father was celebrated by his supporters for defeating the leftist guerrilla group, the Shining Path, and stabilizing the Peruvian economy.
However, he was later convicted for human rights violations and corruption, serving 16 years in prison before his death in 2024.
Tough Crackdown on Crime and Migration
The politician from the conservative party Fuerza Popular ran for the presidency for the fourth time. Fujimori has pledged to tackle organized crime and irregular migration severely. She also plans to deregulate the economy.
The political landscape in Peru, with a population of around 35 million, is characterized by ongoing conflict between the parliament and the government. Congress can remove presidents for “moral incapacity” from office. Over the past decade, Peru has seen eight presidents.
