Peru election: Sánchez supporters protest, demand vote count transparency

Hundreds of supporters for Peru's leftist presidential candidate Roberto Sánchez marched through Lima on Saturday, demanding transparency in the ongoing vote count. The demonstration, under heavy police escort, aimed to reject a potential victory for right-wing candidate Keiko Fujimori.

With the electoral count at 98.552%, Fujimori holds a slim lead of 18,500 votes, securing 50.051% of the ballots compared to Sánchez's 49.949%. The final result awaits the resolution of 1,340 disputed, observed, or error-containing ballots by special electoral juries, a process that could extend for several days or even weeks.

Sánchez's party, Juntos por el Perú, has raised concerns about alleged irregularities in voting stations, particularly in the capital and northern regions where Fujimori has stronger support, as well as in overseas votes. Protesters carried signs depicting Fujimori negatively, expressing their rejection of a government led by the daughter and political heir of former President Alberto Fujimori.

The march also drew participants from various regions of the country and families of victims from late 2022 and early 2023 anti-government protests. Earlier, Juntos por el Perú criticized the Municipality of Lima for cordoning off large parts of the historic center, calling it an "arbitrary, unconstitutional, and illegal political response" that violated freedom of movement and the right to protest.

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the will of the people expressed at the ballot box and demand total transparency during the review of ballots.