The conservative Keiko Fujimori and the nationalist Roberto Sánchez will compete for the presidency of Peru in a runoff on June 7. The result was confirmed after the total vote count of the first round on April 12, published by the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE).
Fujimori, Fuerza Popular candidate, obtained 17.18% of the votes. Sánchez, from Together for Peru, reached 12.03%. The Electoral Tribunal will proclaim the two finalists this Sunday.
Fourth opportunity for Fujimori
Daughter of the late former president Alberto Fujimori, the 50-year-old former congresswoman is seeking the presidency for the fourth time. It is presented as the option to impose order in a country affected by growing crime. Sánchez, former minister of the sentenced former president Pedro Castillo, capitalized on the vote of the Andes and the Amazon with promises to renegotiate contracts for the exploitation of natural resources and increase teachers’ salaries.
Electoral fragmentation
More than 70% of voters did not vote for either of them. Fujimori won in 10 regions, mainly on the Pacific coast and the Amazon. Sánchez won in 11 regions, especially in the Andes and rural areas. None triumphed in Lima, where a third of the electorate resides.
Both candidates will need to form coalitions. For weeks they have declared themselves sure of going to the second round and have already exchanged statements about the venue of the previous debates.
The first statements
On Friday, after the count, Sánchez stated:
“Workers have the right to be owners, entrepreneurs, with a nationalist vision that generates employment and human development.”
Fujimori has not spoken yet, but on Thursday he promised from Lambayeque:
“Coordinate with the different regional and local governments, without looking at political colors.”
Peru is suffering a long political crisis that has seen eight presidents in almost a decade. The social protests between 2022 and 2023 left 50 protesters dead.
