Narrow Victory After Three Weeks of Vote Counting

The National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) of Peru concluded on June 29, 2026 the definitive count of the second electoral round, confirming the victory of Keiko Fujimori, candidate of the Fuerza Popular party. The leader obtained 50.13% of valid votes, equivalent to 9,223,396 ballots, against 49.86% of her rival, leftist Roberto Sánchez, from Juntos por el Perú, who obtained 9,173,755 votes.

The final difference was only 49,641 votes, making this election the third consecutive presidential race in Peru decided by less than 50,000 votes, reflecting a deep political division in the Andean country.

The Return of Fujimorismo After 25 Years

Keiko Fujimori, daughter of former president Alberto Fujimori (1990-2000), achieved the presidency in her fourth candidacy, after having lost the elections of 2011, 2016, and 2021 against Ollanta Humala, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, and Pedro Castillo respectively. Her victory marks the return of Fujimorismo to power after 25 years since her father resigned by fax from Japan amidst a corruption scandal.

The president-elect's father is serving a 25-year prison sentence for crimes against humanity and corruption during his government. This background generates controversy in a sector of Peruvian society and will be part of the political context the new administration will face.

Understanding Fujimorismo: A Brief Context

Fujimorismo is a political movement that emerged around the figure of Alberto Fujimori, who governed Peru from 1990 to 2000. His government was characterized by neoliberal economic policies and a hardline approach against leftist guerrilla groups like Shining Path and the Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement. However, his presidency ended in controversy with accusations of human rights violations, corruption, the forced sterilization program, and the dissolution of Congress in 1992.

Since Alberto Fujimori's fall, his daughter Keiko has led the movement through the Fuerza Popular party, maintaining a solid electoral base that identifies with the security and economic stability associated with her father's era.

Next Institutional Steps

Although the ONPE count has concluded, the electoral process must be completed with the official proclamation by the National Jury of Elections (JNE), scheduled for July 3, 2026. Subsequently, on July 15, the credentials delivery will take place at the National Theater, and finally on July 28 —Peru's national day— Fujimori will be sworn in as president before the Congress of the Republic.

The elected president assumes office in a context of chronic political instability: Peru has had eight presidents in the last ten years, resulting from dismissals, resignations, and constitutional successions, many of them driven by Fujimorismo itself from Parliament.

What This Means for Peru's Future

Keiko Fujimori's victory represents a significant shift in Peruvian politics. The country has experienced unprecedented political turbulence in recent years, including the brief presidency of Pedro Castillo (2022), a rural teacher turned politician whose government lasted only months before his removal and arrest. The return of Fujimorismo raises questions about democratic institutions, human rights accountability, and economic policy direction.

International markets have responded positively to the news, given Fujimori's pro-business stance. However, social organizations and left-wing parties have expressed concerns about potential authoritarian tendencies and the potential for pardons for those convicted during her father's government.