Peru's National Electoral Board (JNE) on Sunday formally certified the first-round presidential election results, with conservative candidate Keiko Fujimori leading at 17% of the vote, followed by leftist congressman Roberto Sanchez at 12%. The two candidates will compete in a runoff on June 7.
The JNE acknowledged that the April 12 vote faced multiple problems, including delays in vote counting and logistical errors, which forced polling to extend into the next day in some areas. JNE President Roberto Burneo said the body had learned from the experience and would increase oversight to ensure a smoother runoff process.
According to the JNE, a committee of domestic and international experts will be formed to support the second-round electoral process.
Election day disruptions have fueled public discontent and eroded trust in the political system, leading to fraud allegations from some candidates. Election observers acknowledged the public frustration but cautioned that there was no evidence of fraud yet.
Far-right candidate Rafael Lopez Aliaga, who placed third with 11.9% of the vote, has called for nullifying the first-round results. On social media, he declared: 'Electoral fraud has just been committed in Peru. We will not accept results that are the product of fraud and corruption.'
The controversy surrounding the first round is the latest development in Peru's prolonged political crisis, as the country has seen nine different presidents over the past decade due to frequent impeachment efforts by Congress.
Last week, Peru's Public Prosecutor's Office announced financial crime charges against Sanchez, just hours after the electoral body declared him eligible for the runoff.
