Peru votes Sunday in runoff between Fujimori and Sánchez, choosing its ninth president in a decade

Peru faces a pivotal presidential election on Sunday, with voters deciding between right-wing candidate Keiko Fujimori and left-wing contender Roberto Sánchez. The outcome will determine the country's ninth president in just a decade, a period marked by chronic political instability.

Over 27.3 million Peruvians are eligible to vote in this runoff election. The choice is stark: either return the Fujimori name to power, a quarter-century after her father's authoritarian rule, or embrace a left-wing alternative championed by supporters of the imprisoned former president, Pedro Castillo.

This electoral contest echoes past choices. For the fourth consecutive time, Peruvians must choose between Fujimori, the political heir of former autocrat Alberto Fujimori, and an anti-Fujimori candidate. Previous anti-Fujimori victors include Ollanta Humala, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, and Pedro Castillo, with the latter two winning by narrow margins.

Polls suggest the race between Fujimori and Sánchez will again be extremely close. The election touches on deep national wounds, with both candidates' platforms linked to significant political events: Alberto Fujimori's successful 1992 coup and Pedro Castillo's failed 2022 attempt, which led to his imprisonment.

Keiko Fujimori positions herself as a successor to her father's legacy, which included economic growth and combating subversive groups, despite his conviction for human rights violations and corruption. She promises a "firm hand" to restore order and pull Peru out of what she describes as "chaos." Conversely, Roberto Sánchez aims to free Castillo, appealing to rural and poorer supporters who believe elites, including Fujimori, prevented Castillo from governing effectively.