Keiko Fujimori was positioned to win Peru's presidency on Thursday, holding a narrow but increasing lead as election officials worked through a small portion of challenged votes. The count showed Fujimori ahead by 39,115 votes after 99.38% of ballots were processed, leaving approximately 0.62% still to be reviewed.
Officials reported that the outstanding challenged ballots totalled roughly 140,000. An estimated 60% of those ballots originated in Lima and among Peruvians living overseas, areas where Fujimori has demonstrated relatively stronger backing in the runoff held on June 7.
Gonzalo Marquez, head of data consultancy Caleidos, said that the geographic distribution of the remaining challenged votes - concentrated in places favorable to Fujimori - made a reversal of the preliminary result unlikely. "These are areas where Keiko Fujimori should have an advantage," he said, noting that the composition of the uncounted ballots suggested limited potential for a change in outcome.
According to the elections office tally released on Thursday, Fujimori had 50.11% of valid votes against 49.89% for her leftist rival, Roberto Sanchez, with 99.38% of ballots counted. If the result holds, Fujimori would become the first woman directly elected to Peru's presidency. The candidate has previously lost three runoffs; in the most recent 2021 contest she was defeated by 44,200 votes.
As election authorities proceeded with the careful review and recount of contested ballots, Sanchez's campaign initiated legal challenges seeking to annul certain votes favoring Fujimori and called for protests in Lima scheduled for Friday. The campaign has alleged irregularities at the electoral authority in relation to the handling of challenged ballots.
International observer missions from the Organization of American States and the European Union issued separate statements indicating that the vote had proceeded normally and urging restraint while the official result is finalized.
Note: The count and legal processes remain active as the country awaits a final, official certification of results.