Presidential candidate won't accept Peru's runoff vote unless overseas ballots are tossed

Conservative candidate Keiko Fujimori appears to be on the verge of securing Peru’s presidency following the recent runoff election, according to preliminary vote counts released by the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE). With nearly all ballots tallied—99.72% of the total—Fujimori leads her opponent, Roberto Sánchez, by approximately 40,000 votes. This outcome suggests she is likely to be declared the winner once remaining ballots are processed. Fujimori, daughter of the former president Alberto Fujimori, is contesting her fourth consecutive presidential bid and has been campaigning on a platform emphasizing security and anti-corruption measures.

Roberto Sánchez, the leftist candidate and former commerce minister, has raised concerns over the legitimacy of the election results, specifically regarding the inclusion of overseas ballots. He has stated that he will not accept the official results if the votes cast by Peruvians abroad are included. Sánchez claims that the overseas ballots were processed improperly, citing issues with the scanning application used by consulates abroad. His campaign has formally requested that these votes be invalidated, alleging potential irregularities in their handling.

According to the Peruvian Foreign Affairs Ministry, there was an adjustment in procedures for overseas voting due to technical difficulties encountered with the scanning app during the initial phase of the election. Instead of using the app, consulates were instructed to send physical tally sheets directly to Lima for processing. This change was reportedly approved by electoral authorities in late May. However, Sánchez’s team disputes this explanation, suggesting that the altered procedure could have opened avenues for fraudulent activity. Both ONPE and the Foreign Affairs Ministry have denied such allegations, maintaining that the process followed legal guidelines.

Over 307,000 Peruvians living outside the country participated in the runoff, with a significant majority—approximately 65%—supporting Fujimori. Her strong showing among expatriates, particularly those residing in the United States, Argentina, and Japan, reflects her appeal to diaspora communities. These regions hold historical significance for Fujimori’s family, as her paternal grandparents were born in Japan and her father served as president in the 1990s.

In contrast, Sánchez enjoys robust support in rural areas and among indigenous populations. His campaign focused on social equity and proposed reforms to the mining industry aimed at granting local communities greater control over natural resources. Despite his success in certain regions of southern Peru, Sánchez faced challenges in urban centers like Lima, which houses roughly a third of the country’s electorate. This regional disparity contributed to Fujimori’s overall lead in the vote count.

Peru has experienced considerable political turbulence in recent years, having seen eight different presidents since 2016, with only two of them being elected through direct popular vote. Many of the transitions occurred due to resignations or removals by Congress, often linked to corruption scandals. Nevertheless, the nation has sustained relatively stable economic policies, contributing to its status as one of the fastest-growing economies in South America.

As the final results approach, the situation remains tense. Fujimori has yet to publicly respond to Sánchez’s challenge regarding the overseas votes. If the current trend continues, she is expected to be officially declared the winner soon. However, the controversy surrounding the validity of overseas ballots could potentially influence the outcome, depending on how electoral authorities handle the dispute. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether Peru moves forward with a new administration under Fujimori or faces further political uncertainty.