Peru's presidential runoff ends in statistical tie, leaving weeks of uncertainty ahead

Peru's presidential runoff has ended in a statistical tie, with right-wing candidate Keiko Fujimori and left-wing rival Roberto Sanchez separated by a fraction of a percentage point after more than 90% of ballots were counted. The deadlock echoes the 2021 election, when weeks of challenges and recounts delayed the final result.

The numbers so far

With over 93% of tally sheets processed, the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) showed Fujimori at 50.08% (8.75 million votes) and Sanchez at 49.92% (8.72 million votes). Other counts placed the margin similarly narrow: DW reported Fujimori at roughly 50.5% to Sanchez's 49.5%, while stern.de cited 50.4% to 49.6%. The Ipsos quick count, based on a representative sample of polling stations, gave Sanchez a marginal lead of 50.3% to Fujimori's 49.7% — a result Ipsos described as a statistical tie.

As of now, there is no winner. There will be long days ahead.

Two electorates, one country

Fujimori dominated Lima, carrying over 63% of the capital's vote, and prevailed along the coast. Sanchez swept the rural interior — the sierra and jungle regions — where ballots are counted more slowly. Analyst Paulo Vilca of the Institute for Peruvian Studies told AFP the narrow result reflected the country's division: "Whoever wins will have half the country against them."

This is an important lead that reaffirms the will of the people, who want democracy and justice.

The candidates

Fujimori, running for the fourth consecutive time, campaigned on a tough-on-crime platform, promising a military crackdown on organised crime and illegal migration. She is the daughter of former president Alberto Fujimori, who governed from 1990 to 2000 and was later convicted of corruption and crimes against humanity. Sanchez, a psychologist and former foreign trade and tourism minister under imprisoned ex-president Pedro Castillo, positioned himself as Castillo's heir and pledged to abolish laws he says favour organised crime. Two days before the runoff, a case against him regarding illegal party financing from six years ago was reopened.

A fragmented first round

The first round on 12 April featured 35 candidates — the most in Peru's history. Fujimori's lead was confirmed early, but the battle for second place between Sanchez and far-right candidate Roberto Lopez Aliaga dragged on for weeks. ONPE confirmed Sanchez's qualification only on 17 May, when 99.94% of tally sheets had been reviewed.

What comes next

The Supreme Electoral Court has until mid-July to proclaim the official result, following a recount of contested polling stations. The Ombudsman's Office recorded 4,580 incidents on election day, including improperly marked ballots at roughly 20 polling stations, but both the Ombudsman and the National Jury of Elections stated there was no evidence of systematic electoral fraud. Fujimori has pledged to recognise the results and called on Sanchez to do the same.