Sánchez seeks to annul overseas vote in Peru runoff, calls for new protests as Fujimori holds 41,000-vote lead

Narrow vote count leaves runoff unresolved

Two weeks after the 7 June ballot, Peru's presidential runoff remains uncalled. With 99.6% of voting records processed, right‑wing candidate Keiko Fujimori leads with 50.11% of valid votes (9,183,280 ballots), while leftist Roberto Sánchez stands at 49.89% (9,141,715 votes), a margin of roughly 41,600 votes. The National Election Jury (JNE) has not yet proclaimed a winner, and Sánchez refuses to accept the provisional outcome.

Keiko Fujimori9,183,280

Roberto Sánchez9,141,715

Keiko Fujimori

9183280

Roberto Sánchez

9141715

Data from the article text

Overseas vote becomes central flashpoint

Sánchez is concentrating his challenge on the roughly 300,000 votes cast by Peruvians abroad. Unlike previous elections, the electoral authorities ruled that overseas records would not be transmitted digitally but would travel physically to Lima for counting. Sánchez argues this broke the chain of custody and created irregularities. If the overseas vote were annulled, the outcome would flip: Sánchez would obtain 50.11% and a 39,614‑vote advantage over Fujimori.

“The vote of Peruvians abroad, which is worth the same as that of Peruvians in our territory, has been affected by this regulatory change.”

He highlighted that ballots from Argentina arrived as consolidated air cargo rather than in a diplomatic pouch, calling the process unsafe. International observer missions have not flagged the procedural change as a serious irregularity or evidence of fraud, and neither Sánchez nor his party criticised the decision before the vote.

JNE rejects earlier nullity appeals

On 20 June, the full bench of the JNE dismissed two appeals filed by Sánchez's party, Juntos por el Perú, that sought to invalidate results from 1,751 polling tables in Lima and 647 tables in the United States. The court examined the arguments in a public hearing and ruled the motions unfounded. The decision is final, clearing the legal path for the count to be completed and a winner to be declared.

Sánchez mobilises street protests

Before the JNE ruling, Sánchez led thousands of supporters through central Lima on 19 June in what he called a march "in defence of the popular vote." The demonstration was peaceful and monitored by a large police contingent. Speaking from a party balcony, Sánchez announced a new legal motion.

“In the coming hours our legal team will file a motion for the annulment of the elections. Historic mobilisations are coming in defence of the vote.”

He was accompanied by his two vice‑presidential running mates and the party's secretary‑general.

Fujimori calls for respect, awaits proclamation

Keiko Fujimori has not declared herself winner, though she urged her rival to accept the results. "The figures are conclusive," she said on 19 June. This is her fourth presidential bid; she is the daughter of former president Alberto Fujimori. Sánchez, the political heir of imprisoned former president Pedro Castillo, shows no sign of conceding, prolonging the uncertainty over who will govern Peru for the next five years.