Peruvians Vote in Presidential Runoff Amid Deep Political Crisis
Peruvians went to the polls on Sunday, June 7, in a presidential runoff election between conservative candidate Keiko Fujimori and leftist candidate Roberto Sánchez. This marks the tenth presidential vote in the country in a decade, and the winner will become Peru's ninth president in that same period.
Polls closed at 5 p.m. local time, with a winner potentially announced later that night—though a close result could delay results for days.
The Candidates
Keiko Fujimori
Leader of the right-wing Fuerza Popular party and daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori.
- Background: Began her political career in 1994 at age 19, serving as first lady after her parents' separation. Later served as a congresswoman and founded Fuerza Popular.
- Campaign History: This is her fourth consecutive presidential campaign, following defeats in 2011, 2016, and 2021.
- Platform: Proposes a 60-day state of emergency to combat crime, measures to attract foreign investment, and economic stabilization. She adopted a more moderate tone this campaign and acknowledged past mistakes.
- Endorsements: Backed by 14 former presidents who cited her defense of market economy and individual liberties.
- Legal Troubles: Previously investigated for corruption related to Odebrecht campaign financing. In January 2025, a court nullified the case. Critics, including Human Rights Watch, argue she and her party share responsibility for Peru's political instability. Fujimori denies these allegations.
Roberto Sánchez
A psychologist and member of Congress representing the left-leaning Together for Peru movement.
- Platform: Initially proposed nationalizing sectors of the economy but later moderated his stance, embracing an open-market economy. His campaign focused on anti-poverty measures, police reform, and a new constitution.
- Legal Troubles: Prosecutors have charged him with falsifying campaign finance disclosures, which he denies.
- Symbolism: Wears a sombrero given by former President Pedro Castillo, who was ousted and jailed for attempting to close Congress and the courts. Sánchez's team includes Antauro Humala, a former army officer convicted for leading a deadly uprising.
First Round Results
The first round was held on April 12, with final results released in mid-May. Approximately 21,200 votes separated Sánchez from third-place candidate Rafael López Aliaga, who alleged fraud. Election monitors reported no evidence of fraud.
- Keiko Fujimori: 17% (2,877,678 votes)
- Roberto Sánchez: 12% (2,015,114 votes)
- Rafael López Aliaga: 11.9% (1,993,905 votes)
Out of over 27 million eligible voters, 7.16 million did not vote. Among those who did vote, 11.7% cast blank ballots and 5% spoiled ballots.
Polling and Voter Sentiment
The last Ipsos poll, released May 31, showed:
- Fujimori: 38%
- Sánchez: 35%
- Undecided: 15%
- Blank or null votes: 12%
An Ipsos poll released the Thursday before the runoff indicated that Fujimori's lead had disappeared after Sánchez moderated his platform in the final week of campaigning.
Anti-Fujimori sentiment persists among some voters, though its impact may be less among younger voters. Many Peruvians remained undecided or planned to spoil their ballots. Fujimori gained support from some centrist figures citing economic concerns.
Key Issues and Context
This election takes place amid corruption scandals, rising crime, and an institutional crisis.
- Top voter concerns: A poll found that 62% of voters cited corruption as a top issue, second only to crime at 63%.
- Political instability: Peru has experienced extreme volatility, with nine presidents in ten years.
The next president will serve a five-year term starting July 28.