In Lima, Peru, an election supporter displayed a banner for presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori at her campaign’s final rally. On Sunday, Peruvians will choose their new president. Polls indicate a close contest between Keiko Fujimori, a hard-right candidate, and leftist Roberto Sánchez. Fujimori has been slightly leading in polls, with around a quarter of voters undecided. However, reports from Reuters suggest Sánchez may have closed the gap in the past week.
Keiko Fujimori is well-known in Peru, running on her father, Alberto Fujimori’s, legacy. His tenure as president was marked by both success in addressing hyperinflation and the Maoist insurgency, as well as criticism for running death squads, shutting down congress, bribing journalists, and extensive corruption. He was eventually sentenced to 25 years in prison for his actions. Political scientist Paula Távara suggests that if Keiko wins, she may exhibit performative moderation, with a discourse on dialogue and democracy. However, she could use power in an authoritarian manner, especially against protests, which might be met with repressive tactics.
This election marks Keiko Fujimori’s fourth presidential runoff, following near losses in 2011, 2016, and 2021. Many in Peru criticize her reluctance to accept defeat, notably after her 2016 loss, and for her subsequent unfounded fraud claims in 2021. She is also accused of leveraging her Popular Force party to block investigations into corruption and organized crime, destabilizing multiple governments, and contributing to Peru’s frequent changes in presidency over the past decade. She’s campaigning on a promise to adopt a tough-on-crime approach amidst Peru’s crime wave, promising to restore order. Critics argue she herself has contributed to Peru’s political and social instability.
Roberto Sánchez, aged 57, is also a contentious figure. He campaigns wearing a sombrero gifted by Pedro Castillo, a former leftist president who defeated Fujimori in 2021. Castillo’s presidency concluded within 18 months under a cloud of extremism, incompetence allegations, and corruption, leading to his ouster and imprisonment in December 2022. Sánchez initially advocated for nationalizing major industries and reducing imports, reflective of Cuban or North Korean strategies, before shifting towards centrist policies, though his message is undermined by Antauro Humala’s involvement. Humala, a radical former army officer, served prison time for leading a violent insurgency that resulted in police deaths.
Peruvian polls will close at 5 p.m., and a winner may be announced later that night. However, a close vote could delay final results by several days.