Peru election: Keiko Fujimori votes amid supporter cheers

Right-wing candidate Keiko Fujimori cast her vote on Sunday in Peru's presidential runoff election, facing off against leftist rival Roberto Sánchez. Arriving at the Libertador San Martín school in Lima's San Borja district under heavy police escort, Fujimori greeted supporters from her car window, thanking them for their backing. She did not make any statements to the press.

Fujimori, the political heir of former president Alberto Fujimori, began her day by meeting with delegates who would monitor the vote count. She later had breakfast in a humble neighborhood on the outskirts of the capital. Earlier, she called on the public to vote, stressing that "every vote counts" and highlighting the role of electoral observers from both parties in "defending democracy." She also expressed concern over a small number of polling stations that had not yet been set up by midday, stating she would monitor the situation.

The leader of the Fujimori Popular Force party will await the release of exit polls and official results from a hotel in San Borja. More than 27.3 million Peruvians are eligible to vote for the next president, who will govern from 2026 to 2031. This election marks the ninth presidential change in ten years, reflecting a decade of political instability marked by frequent presidential dismissals initiated by Congress.

The election pits Fujimori, whose father was convicted of human rights abuses and corruption, against Sánchez, who supports jailed former president Pedro Castillo. Castillo is serving an 11-year and 5-month sentence for his failed 2022 coup attempt and Sánchez has pledged to release him.