Keiko Fujimori wins presidential election in Peru

The winner of the presidential election in Peru, with the first round held in April and the second round on June 7, has been determined. The National Jury of Elections of Peru announced that right-wing candidate Keiko Fujimori won the presidential election following the publication of the final results. According to the results, in a close race against her leftist opponent Roberto Sanchez, Fujimori received 9 million 223 thousand votes, corresponding to 50.135 percent of all votes, while Sanchez remained at 9 million 173 thousand votes, corresponding to 48.865 percent.

Making a statement regarding the election results, Fujimori said in a post on her social media account, "A new era begins. We face this process with responsibility, humility, and a deep sense of duty." Fujimori is expected to take office on July 28, when Peru celebrates its independence day.

"Fujimori won the election with overseas votes"

Local observers noted that Fujimori won the race particularly with the support from overseas votes, while also noting that political tension in the country is expected to remain high in the coming days. It is estimated that the new term in Peru, which frequently experiences government crises and impeachment processes, may also begin with similar political uncertainty.

During the election process, both candidates advanced to the second round after leaving behind 33 rivals in the first round in April. However, delays in vote counting and debates over election procedures had overshadowed the process. According to local sources, while Sanchez raised allegations of irregularities in the vote count, he did not provide concrete evidence and claimed that changes to election rules were suspicious. International observers, on the other hand, announced that no serious irregularities were detected in the process.

Fujimori had failed to win the 3 previous elections she entered

Keiko Fujimori, daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori, argues that the political instability and economic stagnation experienced in Peru over the last 10 years must be overcome. The 51-year-old Fujimori had also competed for the presidency in the 2011, 2016, and 2021 elections but had not won any of them.

Alberto Fujimori had been arrested

Alberto Fujimori, who served in his country between 1990 and 2000, fled Peru after it was revealed that he had accepted bribes during his election campaigns. Fujimori, who was arrested in 2007, was extradited from Chile to Peru. Fujimori was sentenced to 25 years in prison on charges of ordering the deaths of 25 people during his tenure, embezzlement, and bribery.