Keiko Fujimori Wins Peru Presidency by Narrow Margin Amid Political Turmoil
After three weeks of vote counting in Peru's tightly contested presidential election, right-wing candidate Keiko Fujimori has been declared the winner over leftist rival Roberto Sánchez. The final tally, announced on Monday, showed Fujimori winning by a razor-thin margin of 0.27%, or 49,641 votes out of more than 18 million cast. Fujimori secured 9,223,396 votes (50.135%) compared to Sánchez's 9,173,755 (49.865%). The decisive runoff took place on June 7.
Fujimori, 51, is the daughter of former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori, who was convicted of authoritarian rule and corruption before his death two years ago. She has run for president three times previously, losing narrowly each time. The National Election Jury is expected to officially confirm her victory on Friday, with her five-year term set to begin on July 28. However, Sánchez refuses to concede, alleging fraud without evidence and promising to appeal the results. His supporters have held protests in Lima under the slogan "Protect the Vote" and plan further demonstrations.
If Sánchez succeeds in delaying Fujimori's inauguration, it could deepen Peru's ongoing political crisis, which has seen nine presidents resign or be removed since 2016. Fujimori would be the tenth president in this turbulent decade. The previous leftist president, Pedro Castillo, was ousted in 2022 after dissolving Congress and accused of attempting a coup. His successors have also been removed, with current president José María Bellido, a leftist, recently sparking controversy with an antisemitic remark blaming Jews for World War II.
Fujimori, a right-wing politician, has pledged to cooperate closely with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump and is a supporter of Israel. She condemned Bellido's antisemitic comments as "shameful and distressing." During her campaign, she promised a tough stance against crime, including establishing maximum-security prisons, deporting illegal immigrants, and protecting judges from retaliation by criminals. She vowed, "Justice will not be afraid," emphasizing the need to confront violent criminals.
Her father, Alberto Fujimori, ruled Peru from 1990 to 2000, known for defeating communist insurgents and stabilizing the economy but also for authoritarian measures such as dissolving Congress and political repression. He was convicted of human rights abuses and corruption and died in 2022. Keiko Fujimori has leveraged her father's legacy to build her political career, first entering Congress in 2006. Despite her tough-on-crime stance, she has distanced herself from her father's authoritarianism and pledged to respect Peru's constitutional term limits.
Keiko Fujimori's victory reflects a broader rightward shift in Latin America, following recent conservative wins in Colombia, Bolivia, Honduras, Chile, and Costa Rica. This trend coincides with increased U.S. involvement in the region, including financial aid and political support for right-wing allies. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar congratulated Fujimori, expressing confidence in strengthening bilateral ties and cooperation between Peru and Israel.
