Runoff Election in Peru: Tight Race Between Fujimori and Sánchez

Keiko Fujimori: Fourth Bid and Political Legacy

Fujimori (51) is the daughter of former president Alberto Fujimori, who was convicted of human rights violations and has since died, and who ruled Peru from 1990 to 2000. The politician from the conservative party Fuerza Popular is running for the presidency for the fourth time.

She has announced that she will take a hard line against organized crime. She also plans to deregulate the economy. Ahead of the first round, the 51-year-old said: "Heute, da Peru unter Kriminellen und Erpressern leidet, verlangen die Menschen nach einer Fujimori - hier bin ich".

For her first 100 days in office, she announced the deployment of the military, tougher prison conditions, and the deportation of migrants without valid documents. On security policy she is regarded as a hardliner in light of the country's rising levels of violence.

Roberto Sánchez: Economic Policy Focus and the Castillo Line

Sánchez (57) served as minister of foreign trade and tourism in the government of imprisoned former president Pedro Castillo (2021–2022). The candidate of the Juntos por el Perú alliance also advocates a stronger role for the state in the economy.

He regards the former president as a victim of a political maneuver. In the event of an election victory, he intends to pardon Castillo. After casting his vote, Sánchez visited Castillo in prison.

The political situation in the country of around 35 million inhabitants is marked by a permanent conflict between parliament and government. Over the past ten years, Peru has had eight presidents. Congress has the power to remove a president from office for "permanent moral incapacity."

Political Instability and Power Struggle in Peru

Keiko Fujimori was taken into pretrial detention in October 2018 on suspicion of bribery. The Constitutional Court lifted the detention one year later. In the 2021 presidential election, she unsuccessfully sought to have part of the votes cast declared invalid.

A prominent trade unionist accused her at the time of trying to carry out a "slow coup." Fujimori first ran for president in 2006 and was subsequently elected to Congress. She later founded the Fuerza Popular party and led it for years as its figurehead.

Alberto Fujimori was celebrated by his supporters for crushing the left-wing rebel group "Shining Path" and for stabilizing the economy. He was later convicted of human rights violations and corruption. He died in 2024.

Outlook for the Coming Weeks

Keiko Fujimori is of Japanese descent and came to public attention at the age of 19, when, after her mother's separation from her father amid corruption scandals, she took on the role of First Lady. With her fourth candidacy, she is making another attempt at the country's highest office.

The outcome of the runoff is politically significant, as Peru has been suffering for years from a wave of organized crime, extortion, and corruption. Both candidates have made clear in recent weeks that they intend to tackle these problems with very different tools.

The coming weeks, until the official announcement of the final result by the Supreme Electoral Court, will show whether Fujimori, despite her narrow lead, can bring her fourth presidential bid to a successful conclusion, or whether Sánchez can still turn the result around.