The daughter of dictator Alberto Fujimori, Keiko Fujimori, is close to becoming the first female president of Peru.

Her opponent, the left-wing candidate Roberto Sánchez, has filed a lawsuit contesting the results.

Right-Wing Candidate Fujimori Close to Becoming Peru's First Female President 

Peru is preparing for a major presidential showdown as election authorities begin setting the machinery in motion ahead of the national vote. Political parties are intensifying campaigns while officials focus on logistics, security, and voter outreach to ensure a smooth electoral process. The upcoming election is expected to shape Peru’s political and economic direction amid ongoing public concerns over stability and governance.

Leftist Candidate Roberto Sánchez Edges Ahead Of Conservative Rival Keiko Fujimori

Peru’s 2026 presidential runoff on June 7 pits conservative Keiko Fujimori against leftist congressman Roberto Sánchez, concluding a chaotic election cycle. The winner will take office on July 28 for a five-year term, inheriting a deeply polarized nation grappling with inflation, rampant crime, and high political instability.


Peru Faces Crucial Presidential Choice; Winner To Take Office on July 28

Peru's electoral authority has finally named socialist Pedro Castillo as the country's new President. Castillo has won the election by a margin of nearly 44,000 votes beating his right-wing rival Keiko Fujimori.

Pedro Castillo declared winner of Peru’s Presidential election

Peru's presidential election front-runner Pedro Castillo was poised for victory on Friday night, despite legal wrangles over the ultra-close vote count that had ignited tensions in the Andean nation.

"We call on the Peruvian people to stay alert," Castillo told supporters in the middle of last-minute legal disputes over the tight vote count.

According to local media, electoral authorities had considered changing rules to allow right-wing rival Keiko Fujimori to challenge the validity of some 200,000 votes but ultimately declined to make the changes in the afternoon, following intense pressure from Castillo's camp.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/socialist-pedro-castillo-clings-on-to-tight-lead-in-peru-election-as-count-nears-end-390318/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Castillo is ahead of Fujimori by 60,000 votes with 99.6 per cent&nbsp;of votes counted.

Castillo, an elementary school teacher who has fired up support from poorer, rural Peruvians, had raised concerns about plans by the opposition to nullify votes in underserved areas where he had majority support and sought clarity from the electoral body over the process.

The comments underscored rising tensions in the copper-rich nation that has been on tenterhooks since the Sunday vote. Castillo has 50.2 per cent&nbsp;of the ballots, narrowly ahead of Fujimori, who has made unsubstantiated allegations of fraud.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/peru-election-race-tightens-a-week-before-polarized-vote-388474">Peru election race tightens a week before polarized vote</a>

Peru's electoral jury has not commented during the day on the media reports that said it was considering changing the rules.

Vladimir Cerron, head of Castillo's Free Peru party, was even more strident, saying on Twitter that "the people must rise up" in defence of the vote. He had earlier claimed victory for Castillo in the knife-edge election.

The country's electoral authority has yet to confirm a winner, but most observers and some regional leftist leaders, including from Argentina and Bolivia, have congratulated Castillo as the victor, prompting protests from Peru's government.

"Several presidents in the world are congratulating the victory of Pedro Castillo, in other words, he has solid international legitimacy," Cerron wrote.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/with-rattles-and-smoke-peru-shamans-predict-election-outcome-387804/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe>

A divided Peru

Fujimori has yet to concede the election and her supporters have called for protests against the result.

The daughter of jailed former President Alberto Fujimori, she has doubled down on unsubstantiated allegations of fraud, and members of her party have said they will not concede until all votes and appeals are counted, which could still take days.

Castillo himself has also stopped short of proclaiming himself the winner.

The election has bitterly divided Peruvians among class lines, with higher-income citizens supporting Fujimori while many low-income Peruvians supported Castillo, including in key mining regions of the country, the world's no. 2 copper producer.

Castillo was not a member of the Free Peru party before his presidential run. It is still unclear whether he would adopt its far-leftist stance for the economy if in power.

In recent days, he has recruited Pedro Francke, a moderate left economist as his adviser.

Peru's presidential election front-runner Pedro Castillo was poised for victory on Friday night, despite legal wrangles over the ultra-close vote count that had ignited tensions in the Andean nation.

Peru's presidential election front-runner Pedro Castillo was poised for victory on Friday night, despite legal wrangles over the ultra-close vote count that had ignited tensions in the Andean nation. "We call on the Peruvian people to stay alert," Castillo told supporters in the middle of last-minute legal disputes over the tight vote count. According to local media, electoral authorities had considered changing rules to allow right-wing rival Keiko Fujimori to challenge the validity of some 200,000 votes but ultimately declined to make the changes in the afternoon, following intense pressure from Castillo's camp. Castillo is ahead of Fujimori by 60,000 votes with 99.6 per cent of votes counted. Castillo, an elementary school teacher who has fired up support from poorer, rural Peruvians, had raised concerns about plans by the opposition to nullify votes in underserved areas where he had majority support and sought clarity from the electoral body over the process. The comments underscored rising tensions in the copper-rich nation that has been on tenterhooks since the Sunday vote. Castillo has 50.2 per cent of the ballots, narrowly ahead of Fujimori, who has made unsubstantiated allegations of fraud. Also read | Peru election race tightens a week before polarized vote Peru's electoral jury has not commented during the day on the media reports that said it was considering changing the rules. Vladimir Cerron, head of Castillo's Free Peru party, was even more strident, saying on Twitter that "the people must rise up" in defence of the vote. He had earlier claimed victory for Castillo in the knife-edge election. The country's electoral authority has yet to confirm a winner, but most observers and some regional leftist leaders, including from Argentina and Bolivia, have congratulated Castillo as the victor, prompting protests from Peru's government. "Several presidents in the world are congratulating the victory of Pedro Castillo, in other words, he has solid international legitimacy," Cerron wrote. A divided Peru Fujimori has yet to concede the election and her supporters have called for protests against the result. The daughter of jailed former President Alberto Fujimori, she has doubled down on unsubstantiated allegations of fraud, and members of her party have said they will not concede until all votes and appeals are counted, which could still take days. Castillo himself has also stopped short of proclaiming himself the winner. The election has bitterly divided Peruvians among class lines, with higher-income citizens supporting Fujimori while many low-income Peruvians supported Castillo, including in key mining regions of the country, the world's no. 2 copper producer. Castillo was not a member of the Free Peru party before his presidential run. It is still unclear whether he would adopt its far-leftist stance for the economy if in power. In recent days, he has recruited Pedro Francke, a moderate left economist as his adviser.

Peru's Castillo on verge of being named President after last-minute vote wrangling

Peruvian shamans, with rattles, smoke, and pictures of the Andean country's two presidential candidates, are trying to predict the winner of a polarised run-off election set to take place on June 6. Polls are currently showing that contest could be tight.

With rattles and smoke, Peru shamans predict election outcome

Peru opposition leader Keiko Fujimori was released from prison Friday after spending 13 months in pre-trial detention in a corruption case linked to Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht.&nbsp;

Her release comes days after the country's Constitutional Court ordered her freed in a ruling related only to her detention and which otherwise has no bearing on the corruption case against her.

"For me, it was the most painful event of my life," Fujimori said as she left prison and hugged her husband in front of a large group of supporters and journalists.

Fujimori, 44, has been held since October 31, 2018.&nbsp;

Odebrecht has admitted to paying bribes to officials, including four former Peruvian presidents.

Fujimori is accused of receiving funds from the company for her 2011 election campaign as leader of the right-wing Popular Force party.

The party was a major player in the country's 2016 elections but has been losing ground since, in part due to Fujimori's two successive defeats in the second round of presidential elections in 2011 and 2016.

Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra has called for new legislative elections for January 26 after dissolving the country's single-chamber congress in September as part of an anti-corruption campaign.

Fujimori's party risks losing its majority in congress, following repeated clashes with Vizcarra, whose anti-graft drive has proven popular with the public.

Peru opposition leader Keiko Fujimori was released from prison Friday after spending 13 months in pre-trial detention in a corruption case linked to Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht.

Peru opposition leader Keiko Fujimori was released from prison Friday after spending 13 months in pre-trial detention in a corruption case linked to Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht. Her release comes days after the country's Constitutional Court ordered her freed in a ruling related only to her detention and which otherwise has no bearing on the corruption case against her. "For me, it was the most painful event of my life," Fujimori said as she left prison and hugged her husband in front of a large group of supporters and journalists. Fujimori, 44, has been held since October 31, 2018. Odebrecht has admitted to paying bribes to officials, including four former Peruvian presidents. Fujimori is accused of receiving funds from the company for her 2011 election campaign as leader of the right-wing Popular Force party. The party was a major player in the country's 2016 elections but has been losing ground since, in part due to Fujimori's two successive defeats in the second round of presidential elections in 2011 and 2016. Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra has called for new legislative elections for January 26 after dissolving the country's single-chamber congress in September as part of an anti-corruption campaign. Fujimori's party risks losing its majority in congress, following repeated clashes with Vizcarra, whose anti-graft drive has proven popular with the public.

Opposition leader Keiko Fujimori leaves prison in Peru

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