Peruvian Authorities Confirm Fujimori and Sanchez Advance to Runoff

Peruvian election authorities confirmed that right-wing candidate Keiko Fujimori will face left-wing congressional member Roberto Sanchez in the country’s presidential runoff, following a chaotic first round of voting.

Peru’s National Jury of Elections (JNE) confirmed the first-round results Sunday, with Fujimori taking first place at 17 percent of the vote and Sanchez at 12 percent.

The electoral body acknowledged problems with the first round, which was marred by vote-count delays and logistical issues.

“We cannot deny that there were many difficulties and flaws in the logistical deployment by the organising entity, ONPE,” JNE President Roberto Burneo said during a press conference.

“We have incorporated all the lessons learned from the first round and are strengthening oversight,” he added.

The elections body stated that a committee of national and international experts will be convened to ensure a smoother process during the second round of voting.

Shortcomings in the first round on April 12 led to voting in some places being extended to the next day.

The election-day hiccups underscored widespread discontent and mistrust with the country’s political system and sparked allegations of fraud from several candidates.

Election observers acknowledged frustrations but cautioned that there is no evidence of fraud.

Far-right candidate Rafael Lopez Aliaga, who placed third with 11.9 percent of the vote, called for the first round to be annulled. In a social media post Sunday, he said he would not accept the results.

“The electoral fraud in Peru has just been consummated,” he wrote. “We will not accept results that are the product of fraud and corruption.”

The controversy over the first round is the latest incident underscoring Peru’s ongoing political crisis, with nine different presidents holding power in the last decade due to frequent impeachment efforts by Congress.

The country’s public prosecutor’s office announced charges for financial crime against Sanchez last week, hours after election authorities announced he was on track to advance to the runoff.