On June 24, 2026, Keiko Fujimori, the right-wing presidential candidate in Peru, gained what seems to be an insurmountable lead in the runoff election. With 99.86% of the votes counted, Fujimori held 50.12% of the vote. This gives her a margin of over 43,000 votes against her leftist competitor, Roberto Sanchez. The data comes from the National Office of Electoral Processes.
Despite 131 tally sheets still pending, these represent about 39,000 votes. This number falls short of the votes needed for Sanchez to overtake Fujimori. According to the Reuters news agency, the electoral authority will not declare a winner until mid-July. This potential win by Fujimori could signal a further shift to the right in Latin America.
Abelardo de la Espriella also secured a close victory in Colombia’s heated presidential runoff, indicating a regional trend. Concerns over crime have driven many voters towards strict law-and-order candidates.
Sanchez has refused to recognize a Fujimori-led government, citing major breaches in the electoral process. He has pointed to alleged administrative mishandlings of around 300,000 overseas votes. These votes, primarily from the United States and Japan, predominantly supported Fujimori.
Fujimori’s party plans to await the final vote count before claiming victory. The winning candidate will commence their five-year term on July 28. The runoff on June 7 featured the daughter of late former president Alberto Fujimori against Sanchez, who follows in the footsteps of former president Pedro Castillo.
This election was seen by many as a chance to end years of political turmoil in Peru, characterized by impeachments and the jailing of presidents. However, the close results reflect a nation still split between its coastal regions and the more rural, Indigenous southern areas.
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