Peru election exit polls show technical tie between Fujimori and Sánchez

Peru's presidential election is heading towards a technical tie, according to exit polls released Sunday, with right-wing candidate Keiko Fujimori showing a marginal lead over left-wing contender Roberto Sánchez. The results indicate a deeply divided electorate. Polling firm Ipsos projected Fujimori securing 50.7% of the valid votes compared to Sánchez's 49.3%. Datum offered a similar outcome, placing Fujimori at 50.53% and Sánchez at 49.47%. Both polls carry a margin of error of approximately 3%, making a definitive winner impossible to declare at this stage. Fujimori, the daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori, garnered strong support in Lima, the capital, capturing 66.1% of votes there, where a third of the nation's electorate resides. However, she received only 43.9% in the rest of the country. Conversely, Sánchez found more favor in the interior, with 56.1% of the vote there, compared to 33.9% in Lima. Both candidates urged citizens to vote throughout the day. Sánchez emphasized the importance of a "vote of conscience" for a "Peru with zero discrimination and poverty, and with much democracy and justice." Fujimori, seeking her first term after three previous election losses, expressed hope that this would be her last electoral breakfast, signifying her desire for a decisive victory. This election determines Peru's president for the 2026-2031 term, marking the ninth change in leadership over the past decade, a period characterized by considerable political instability and frequent presidential ousters driven by parliamentary actions.