Keiko Fujimori wins Peru presidential runoff by narrow margin

Sun Sep 06 2026 03:16:21 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Peru’s right‑wing candidate Keiko Fujimori emerges victorious over Roberto Sánchez after tight runoff, signalling a right‑ward shift in Latin America.

Keiko Fujimori secured 50.135 % of the vote in the 7 June runoff against Roberto Sánchez who garnered 49.865 %. The win, certified by Peru’s electoral court, follows allegations of irregularities from the opposition. Fujimori’s campaign relied on her father’s legacy and promises of an anti‑crime crackdown. The outcome aligns with recent right‑wing victories in Colombia and other Latin American states, underscoring a regional drift away from leftist governments.

Keiko Fujimori declared winner of Peru's presidential election weeks after vote.

The 51‑year‑old secured 50.135 % of the vote in the runoff held on 7 June, compared with 49.865 % for left‑wing candidate Roberto Sánchez; a margin of less than 50,000 votes, certified by Peru's electoral court.

Fujimori’s campaign relied on her family legacy and promises of an anti‑crime crackdown, drawing on her father Alberto Fujimori's controversial past and a public desire for security.

Roberto Sánchez, 57, challenged the result, alleging irregularities especially in overseas voting, and filed a formal appeal with the electoral court.

The victory coincides with similar right‑wing wins in Colombia and other Latin American countries, marking a regional tilt away from left‑wing governments.

Fujimori pledged to govern with 'responsibility, humility and a deep sense of duty,' and to unlock private investment and tighten immigration enforcement.

Her inauguration is scheduled for 28 July, making her the ninth Peruvian president in the past decade to inherit a climate of political instability.