Peruvian candidate alleges 'fraud in development,' vows not to recognize Fujimori

Peruvian leftist presidential candidate Roberto Sánchez has alleged "fraud in development" in the ongoing election, stating he will not recognize his rival Keiko Fujimori as president. Sánchez, whose party is aligned with jailed former president Pedro Castillo, has not presented evidence for his claims.

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There is a fraud in development.

Sánchez's main argument centers on overseas votes. He contends that electoral rules were violated when vote protection procedures were altered for the second round and when votes were physically transported to Lima for counting. He believes these changes, particularly a request by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to physically send vote tallies from abroad instead of digital transmission, have compromised the integrity of the process.

Official results show Fujimori leading with 50.11% of the valid votes compared to Sánchez's 49.88%, a difference of just over 40,000 votes with nearly all ballots counted. However, Sánchez claims that if overseas votes are excluded, he would secure 50.11% and win by approximately 40,925 votes.

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This serious irregularity leads to a fraud in development, because the voting carried out by the consular offices is still being counted, but today we believe that the National Elections Jury (JNE) must stop this action, as the intangibility of electoral regulations has been violated.

Neither Sánchez nor his party had previously opposed the physical transfer of ballots from overseas missions before the election. International observation missions have also not flagged this procedure as suspicious. Despite this, Sánchez asserts that the vote count has been manipulated to benefit Fujimori's party, Fuerza Popular, and urges the National Elections Jury (JNE) to halt the process due to alleged violations of electoral norms.

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In those conditions of transgression of the norms, we will not recognize the government of Mrs.