Peru’s Election Update
Keiko Fujimori, the conservative former first lady of Peru, has been declared the winner of a slow-moving presidential runoff, pending a formal announcement from the election board. This week, as the votes were counted, Fujimori awaited official confirmation of her presidency.
If she is formally declared and sworn in soon, she will serve a five-year term as Peru’s next president until 2031.
The National Elections Office (ONPE) has finally completed the vote counting process, with results coming in on a Monday, about three weeks post the June 7 runoff between Fujimori and radical left candidate Roberto Sanchez. In the final tally, Fujimori received 50.135% of the votes, while Sanchez garnered 49.865%.
With this final count, Fujimori is poised to become Peru’s tenth president in the last decade, though she awaits the National Electoral Tribunal’s formal declaration, which had not occurred at the time this article was written.
“ONPE has completed counting 100% of the ballots, resolving all objections raised by the Special Electoral Board,” Fujimori shared on social media.
She expressed her cautious optimism: “We are humbly and responsibly waiting for the JNE’s announcement. We are getting closer to paving a path of order and hope for all Peruvians,” she added.
On Tuesday morning, speaking to reporters outside her official residence, Fujimori recognized the division in the country given the tight election results, affirming her acceptance of the outcomes. She emphasized the importance of hearing all voices in the Peruvian populace within the government, although she did not mention any potential cabinet members.
“I’m really happy with these results; it’s good to see ONPE’s work is finally concluded. But now we must wait carefully and humbly for the National Elections Tribunal’s announcement,” she was quoted as saying.
“We accept this result with responsibility. Our country is divided, and we have a duty to listen to everyone,” she continued.
Roberto Sanchez had hinted he might not recognize Fujimori’s victory days earlier. However, on Monday night, he seemed to concede the result indirectly, stating his intention to form a “resistance coalition” against what he perceives as a conservative government. Reports indicate that he questioned Fujimori’s democratic credentials based on her past actions.
Additionally, Radical Left members, alongside Sanchez and the leftist coalition Together for Peru, announced they would file a complaint with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). They allege that changes to the electoral rules during the second round at international locations compromised the integrity of the election process.
“We have a legitimate right to appeal to this institution,” Sanchez commented.
On the last day of vote counting, Together for Peru accused the electoral process of fraud, particularly concerning foreign votes that significantly favored Fujimori. A specially elected jury in Lima dismissed their complaint for being filed past the legal deadline.
Speaking to Russian state media hours before the ONPE’s announcement, Sanchez asserted the leftist coalition would explore every possible avenue to challenge the election results, including international channels.
“All forms of resistance must occur within the framework of democracy and constitutional rights,” he stated, emphasizing peaceful protest as a right.
Fujimori is expected to take office on July 28, succeeding José María Balcázar, a Marxist who assumed the presidency after the impeachment of interim President José Geri in February.
