Peru: Keiko Fujimori Leads In Peru's Delayed Vote-Runoff Likely

Keiko Fujimori Leads in Peru’s Delayed Vote, Runoff Likely PERU Peru With over half the votes counted in Peru’s extended presidential election, conservatives Keiko Fujimori and Rafael López Aliaga led with 16.88 percent and 13.88 percent of the vote, respectively, assuring a June runoff. A candidate must secure more than half the vote to win outright, a threshold made difficult by a fractured electorate and a record 35 contenders in the race. Peru’s presidential election on Sunday was extended by a day to Monday, after logistical failures prevented tens of thousands of people from voting, sparking nationwide protests over concerns about the transparency of the vote. The extension of voting was announced after counting began Sunday evening, when it became clear that ballots had not reached 15 polling stations, election officials said. Among those who voted on Monday were more than 52,000 residents of the capital Lima, as well as Peruvian voters living in the United States. Peruvians between the ages of 18 and 70 are required to vote, with those who fail to do so facing fines. “I’m fed up,” Iris Valle, 56, told the Associated Press while waiting to cast her ballot Monday at a public school in Lima. She expressed concern that her employer could reduce her pay for not arriving early due to her voting obligation. Peruvian investigators have started an investigation into the delays, carrying out searches at the country’s election headquarters. Officials said the inquiry centers on the breakdown of deliveries of election-related materials to polling stations. A private company involved in the process was also raided. Despite repeated assurances from election officials that the results will reflect voters’ choices, protesters said the disruption had heightened concerns about transparency and participation in an already closely fought race. The election is unfolding in a country grappling with rising violence and corruption, driving deep voter frustration and a widespread perception that candidates lack both integrity and readiness for office. Repeated removals and impeachments of presidents have also increased calls to dissolve Congress, which critics say has untrammeled power, along with demands for systemic political reform. In February, José Jerí became the latest Peruvian president in a decade to leave office before completing a full term. He was removed by lawmakers for failing to disclose meetings with wealthy Chinese businessmen he was legally required to report. Pre-election polls indicated no candidate had support above 15 percent, far below the threshold of more than 50 percent needed for an outright victory, which will likely result in a two-candidate runoff in June. They showed a tight race among conservative candidates, led by Fujimori, Aliaga and Carlos Álvarez. All three campaigned on tough-on-crime and pro-market policies, while left-leaning Alfonso López Chau trailed at around 6 percent. Still, analysts believe the contest remains fluid, pointing to the 2021 election when Pedro Castillo surged from near obscurity to victory.