Peru presidential race remains too close to call as count passes 85%

Peru's presidential election remains unresolved after an early tally showed Roberto Sánchez narrowly ahead of Keiko Fujimori in a statistical tie. The latest count has left the race too close to call, with official results still incomplete as ballots continue to be processed. The contest is centred on the capital Lima, the coast, rural districts and the Andes, where the two candidates have drawn sharply different levels of support.

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An early tally by Ipsos put Sánchez on 50.3% and Fujimori on 49.7%, while official results showed more than 85% of votes counted. The pollster's figures are not the formal result, but they have been a reliable indicator in previous elections. Both camps have signalled that the final outcome may take time, and recounts are likely to be needed before a winner can be confirmed.

Sánchez told supporters the early count was an important lead that reflected the will of voters who want democracy and justice. Fujimori described the result as a dead heat and said there were long days ahead before a winner could be declared. She also said it would be irresponsible to judge the election on early samples and insisted that every tally sheet must be counted.

The process could take weeks, according to the information available so far. The result matters because the election has been shaped by concerns over crime and political instability, issues that have dominated the campaign. Sánchez has promised broad economic reforms, while Fujimori has campaigned as a familiar figure in Peruvian politics and has argued for a tougher response to organised crime.

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The narrow margin means the final outcome could influence how quickly the next government can claim a mandate and begin addressing those pressures. The race also carries wider political significance because both candidates are closely tied to recent Peruvian political history. Fujimori is seeking office for the fourth time and remains one of the country's best-known political figures.

Her late father, Alberto Fujimori, was president of Peru and later jailed for crimes against humanity, while supporters credited him with a hard line against violent insurgencies and social programmes for poorer communities. Sánchez, meanwhile, has said he would seek a presidential pardon for former left-wing president Pedro Castillo. The 2021 election provides a recent precedent for how long the final result can take to settle.

Castillo and Fujimori also finished in a very close contest, and the declaration dragged on for weeks before Castillo eventually took office. Castillo was later jailed after trying to disband Congress and govern by decree, and Sánchez served as a minister in his government. What remains unclear now is whether the remaining ballots will widen Sánchez's lead, force a recount, or produce another prolonged dispute over the final tally.

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