Sánchez proposed to Keiko Fujimori the review of 'all votes' in Peru's runoff

Peruvian presidential candidate Roberto Sánchez has called for a comprehensive review of all votes cast in the recent runoff election, citing a need for transparency. The tight race has seen Sánchez, a leftist, narrowly trailing right-wing candidate Keiko Fujimori by a mere 1600 votes, with 98.27% of ballots counted.

Sánchez proposed that both campaigns jointly request an exhaustive recount, particularly in areas where transparency concerns have been raised. "I propose that we jointly request an exhaustive review, a recount of the entire process, especially where there are alleged indications that transparency has not occurred as it should," Sánchez announced at a press conference.

However, Fujimori's vice presidential candidate, Luis Galarreta, has rebuffed the proposal. He stated that his party will await the final vote count with prudence and emphasized that recounts are not arbitrary. "The recounting of votes is not because someone just thinks of it. We are going to respect what the electoral norm says. Challenges, nullities, and recounts have a procedure that must be followed," Galarreta told reporters.

The election pits Fujimori, daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori, against Sánchez, a political heir of former President Pedro Castillo. The final result, which could determine Peru's ninth president in a decade, is expected to take several more weeks as electoral authorities meticulously review contested ballots.