Keiko Fujimori edges closer to winning Peru’s presidency

Keiko Fujimori is poised to become Peru’s next president after running her fourth consecutive campaign, according to figures published late Tuesday by the elections regulator after weeks of adjudicating disputed ballots.

With 43,386 votes between Fujimori and leftist rival Roberto Sanchez, and no more than 39,300 votes in dispute, the conservative had enough of a margin to secure her lead. Fujimori had 50.1 per cent of the vote while Sanchez had 49.9 per cent with 99.8 per cent of ballots counted.

More than 18 million Peruvians participated in the June 7 run-off. The electoral authority has yet to officially declare a winner and planned to do so in mid-July. Fujimori’s party, Fuerza Popular, said it would wait for the count to be completed before declaring victory.

Peru’s next president will take office on July 28 for a five-year term.

The run-off results were certain to face challenges from Sanchez, who has said he would not recognise Fujimori’s government over alleged irregularities in the overseas recount.

Sanchez led the race earlier as rural votes were ‌counted, but ‌Fujimori closed the gap as ballots cast overseas began to be processed. Fujimori won an overwhelming majority of votes cast by Peruvians living in the United States, Argentina and Japan, where her paternal grandparents were born.