Peru: Keiko Wins!!!!

Fujimori Wins Peru’s Runoff by Razor-Thin Margin, as Rival Cries Foul PERU Peru Right-wing candidate Keiko Fujimori won Peru’s presidential runoff after building a narrow but apparently insurmountable lead over leftist rival Roberto Sánchez as vote counting entered its final stages Tuesday. With 99.86 percent of ballots tallied, Fujimori held 50.12 percent of the vote, leading Sánchez by just over 43,000 votes, according to electoral officials. Before declaring a winner, authorities must still process 131 tally sheets representing around 39,000 votes. Officials expect to announce final results by mid-July. The overseas vote, which largely favored Fujimori and was driven by strong support from Peruvians in the United States and Japan, helped widen her lead. Sánchez has focused his criticism on the handling of roughly 300,000 ballots cast abroad, alleging administrative irregularities by electoral authorities. Despite the latest figures, Sánchez said he would not recognize a government headed by Fujimori, claiming a “serious violation of the electoral process.” He called for protests over the weekend and urged Peru’s electoral court to “declare as null the June 7 elections held at consular offices for Peruvians abroad.” Fujimori dismissed the allegations, describing Sánchez’s comments as a “desperate political act.” The runoff comes after years of political instability in Peru, which has had nine presidents in the past decade. Fujimori also finished first in April’s first-round vote, although that election was marked by disruptions that triggered allegations of fraud and an investigation. Observers said a Fujimori victory would further extend Latin America’s shift to the right following the narrow presidential election victory of populist Abelardo de la Espriella in Colombia earlier this week. However, analysts cautioned that the tight margin and ongoing fraud allegations highlight Peru’s deep political divisions. While many Peruvians hope the election will help end years of political turmoil, the disputed result suggests tensions are likely to persist even after a winner is formally declared.