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Peru Votes in Tight Runoff Between Keiko Fujimori and Roberto Sánchez

This close contest could be delayed or legally contested and will shape who leads the response to soaring crime and political instability.

Overview

  • More than 27 million Peruvians are voting in the presidential runoff on Sunday, June 7, in a race that is polling as a near tie and could take days to resolve.
  • A judge ruled on the eve of the vote that Roberto Sánchez must stand trial over alleged campaign finance irregularities, a development that could influence ballots and legal challenges to the result.
  • Voters place security at the top of their concerns after a sharp rise in homicides and a ninefold jump in extortion reports, with a 2025 state survey finding 84% of urban residents fear becoming crime victims.
  • Both candidates advanced from a crowded April first round with very low shares of the vote and roughly 30% of voters still undecided, leaving the winner without a clear popular mandate.
  • Neither Fujimori nor Sánchez controls Congress, so the next president will need to build alliances to pass security and economic measures, a challenge that could prolong instability and affect everyday safety and investor confidence.