The progress of the electoral count in Peru has taken a significant turn in recent hours. With nearly 90% of the ballots processed, left-wing candidate Roberto Sánchez has surpassed ultraconservative Rafael López Aliaga by a narrow margin, placing himself in second position and heading towards a probable second round against Keiko Fujimori.
Fujimori leads the scrutiny with slightly less than 17% of the votes, while Sánchez and López Aliaga maintain a very tight struggle for second place, separated by barely a few tenths. The surprising rise of the progressive candidate has occurred as votes from rural areas, traditionally more favorable to his candidacy, were incorporated into the count.
This pattern has once again evidenced the country's territorial fracture: while López Aliaga has concentrated his support in Lima and the main cities —whose results are known first—, Sánchez has built his advance in rural and Andean areas, where his discourse linked to the legacy of Pedro Castillo maintains a strong resonance.
Tensions and accusations without proof
Given the possibility of being left out of the second round, López Aliaga has denounced alleged electoral fraud without providing evidence. The former mayor of Lima has linked his setback to delays in the opening of polling stations in the capital and has raised the political tone calling for "civil insurgency" in rallies with his followers.
In addition, he has demanded the arrest of Piero Corvetto, responsible for the electoral authority, in a context marked by tension and distrust in the process.
A result still open
Despite the advance of the scrutiny, the definitive result is not yet closed. Votes from abroad remain to be counted —where López Aliaga could recover ground— and thousands of challenged records to be resolved.
If the current trend is confirmed, Fujimori would contest her fourth consecutive second round, after having been previously defeated by Ollanta Humala, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski and Castillo himself. The country would thus face a new episode of polarization in a political system marked by instability, with eight presidents in barely a decade.
The uncertainty, far from dissipating, remains awaiting the last votes.