The second round of the Peruvian presidential elections continues without a definitive winner despite the official count already exceeding 98% of the tallied ballots. According to data released by the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE), Keiko Fujimori has taken the lead in the count with 50.002% of the valid votes compared to the 49.998% obtained by Roberto Sánchez.
The difference between the two candidates is barely 651 votes. Fujimori has garnered 9,032,651 votes, while Sánchez has accumulated 9,032,000, a minimal distance in an election marked by extreme equality since election night.
The latest official report shows 98.215% of ballots tallied. Although the advantage currently favors the candidate from Fuerza Popular, the result still depends on the remaining ballots and the review procedures planned by the Peruvian electoral authorities.
One of the most closely contested elections in recent history
The Peruvian presidential runoff is confirming the forecasts that anticipated an extremely tight contest. Since the polls closed, the gap between Roberto Sánchez and Keiko Fujimori has constantly fluctuated as the processing of ballots advanced, with neither candidate managing to consolidate a sufficient lead to consider victory secured.
The equality was already evident on election night. Exit polls and quick counts released after the vote pointed to a minimal difference between the two contenders, within margins that prevented definitive conclusions from being drawn. This uncertainty has subsequently carried over to the official count, where changes in leadership have occurred as new ballots were incorporated into the tally.
A significant portion of these variations is due to the geographical origin of the votes. The first ballots typically come from Lima and other large cities, while the process is slower in rural areas, Andean regions, and territories far from major urban centers. This difference in transmission times can cause shifts in the provisional lead of one candidate or the other as the count progresses.
The pending ballots will be decisive
Once the ONPE's work is finished, the National Elections Jury will have to resolve incidents, observations, or appeals that may be filed by the different political organizations. Precisely because of this, electoral authorities have insisted in recent days on the need to act with prudence before considering the result closed.
The JNE itself has indicated that the official proclamation of the winner could be delayed for several weeks. The forecast provided by the organization even contemplates that the process could extend until July depending on the volume of files to be reviewed and the challenges that may be registered in the coming days.
The elections in Peru face two very different political projects for the future of Peru. Keiko Fujimori, leader of Fuerza Popular, has based a good part of her campaign on proposals related to citizen security, economic stability, and attracting investments. Facing her, Roberto Sánchez, candidate for Juntos por el Perú and former minister during the Government of Pedro Castillo, defends institutional reforms and greater state intervention in certain strategic sectors.
The result has special relevance for a country that over the last decade has gone through profound political instability, with continuous changes of government and a succession of presidents that has marked Peruvian institutional life. The winner of these elections will have to assume the Presidency on July 28, the date set for the start of the new term.