Peru’s Roberto Sanchez to Face Keiko Fujimori in June Presidential Runoff

Peru’s leftist presidential candidate Roberto Sanchez will face Keiko Fujimori in the June runoff after narrowly securing second place in April’s first-round vote, official results showed Friday with 100 per cent of votes tallied. The official count of Peru's first-round presidential election took one month following the April 12 vote. 90 per cent.

Sanchez had a 21,210-vote lead over Lopez Aliaga. Keiko Fujimori topped the fragmented first-round field. Fujimori, the daughter of late former president Alberto Fujimori, is seeking the presidency for a fourth time.

Sanchez is a congressman running with the backing of jailed former leftist President Pedro Castillo. The month-long count led to allegations of fraud from right-wing candidate Rafael Lopez Aliaga, who narrowly trailed Sanchez for much of the counting process.

The prolonged count since the April 12 first-round prompted the resignation of the country’s top electoral official, who is now under investigation by the public prosecutor.

European Union observers said they found no concrete evidence of fraud. South China Morning Post reported that the official results emerged after the extended tally in the politically turbulent South American nation. Far-right candidate Rafael Lopez Aliaga took part in a rally in Lima on Thursday as the count continued.

The narrow margin between Sanchez and Lopez Aliaga persisted through much of the process before Friday’s final announcement with all ballots accounted for. The June runoff will pit Sanchez, backed by former President Pedro Castillo, against Fujimori in a contest shaped by the fragmented first-round results.

Official certification followed the one-month count that began immediately after polls closed on April 12.