With Sánchez at the front, elections in Peru remain close but counting is slow

Left-wing deputy Roberto Sánchez maintains a small lead over conservative Keiko Fujimori in Peru's presidential race this Tuesday (9), while the official counting of votes continues.

With around 95.7% of the votes counted, Sánchez has a 50.072% lead, while Fujimori continues with 49.928%. Voters voted on Sunday (7) in a context of a shift to the right in Latin America.

Fujimori was leading in early results and exit polls, but Sánchez turned around on Monday (8) as ballots from Peru's rural regions continue to be counted.

"We are confident and optimistic. But, as is appropriate, the complete count is still ongoing," Sánchez declared on Monday, speaking to reporters in Congress moments before the turnaround in the result. "Whatever comes next is for the good of the country, because the political instability in Peru needs to end."

Earlier the same day, in front of her home in Lima, Fujimori said she was calm and asked for patience.

"I think we have to wait until the end. As I said yesterday, every vote will be very important, so I think the appropriate thing at this point is to be patient," she said.

Several international polling stations have not yet been fully counted, and are expected to favor the conservative candidate.

Sánchez promised significant reform of Peru's economic system, which has proven resilient despite the country's political turmoil.

ONPE (National Office for Vote Counting), Peru's electoral body, reported that the full count should be completed by July.

Political instability in the country has resulted in a succession of presidents. The winner of the election will be the country's ninth president in the last decade. Congress has removed three presidents in the last five years.

Who is Roberto Sánchez, candidate for President of Peru?

Source: CNN