Peruvian Presidential Election Second Round: Daughter of Former President Kuczynski Faces Left-Wing Candidate Sánchez

On Sunday, the second round of Peru's presidential election saw a fiercely contested race between right-wing conservative candidate Keiko Fujimori and left-wing candidate Roberto Sánchez. The election comes amid widespread public disillusionment with politics and growing anger over crime.

Voting booths opened shortly after 7:00 AM (12:00 UTC) and will close at 5:00 PM (22:00 UTC).

Agence France-Presse reported that nearly 27 million Peruvian voters will choose the country’s next president through this mandatory election—marking the ninth presidency in ten years. The new president will take office on July 28.

Latest polls show the two candidates neck-and-neck. In the first round, neither candidate secured broad support, with their combined vote share falling short of 30%.

Fujimori vs. Sánchez

"We have Sánchez as a candidate, but he gives us no guarantees; and then there's Keiko (Fujimori), who carries a heavy past," said 49-year-old Carlos Altamirano to AFP. The mechanical engineer cast his ballot in the working-class district of San Martín de Porres in Lima.

Keiko Fujimori, 51, is the daughter of former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori, who ruled the country with an iron fist during the 1990s. This marks her fourth run for the presidency.

She claims to inherit her father Fujimori’s controversial legacy. Supporters argue he stabilized the economy and defeated guerrilla groups active in the 1980s and 1990s, but he was later convicted of corruption and crimes against humanity.

Roberto Sánchez, 57, a former minister running for office for the first time, enjoys strong backing in the Andean region, where many voters feel marginalized by Lima’s central government.

On Friday, a judge ordered the transfer of Roberto Sánchez to trial, accusing him of irregularities in local campaign financing between 2018 and 2020, which he denies.

The Roots of Instability

Regardless of who wins Sunday’s election, the victor will inherit a nation deeply mired in ongoing political crisis—since 2016, Peru has seen eight different presidents.

The core of this instability lies in a constitutional provision allowing Congress to remove a president on grounds of "permanent moral incapacity"—a term whose definition remains highly ambiguous.

Neither candidate holds a majority in Parliament, meaning any future president will need to form a coalition to govern for the remainder of their term.

Analyst David Sullmonte said: "Anti-Fujimori sentiment may have weakened, but it remains deeply rooted. Sánchez, meanwhile, is still relatively unknown. If the race is extremely tight, the winner could face challenges to their legitimacy, potentially worsening the political turmoil."

"Too Much Crime—Deport Them!"

Security remains another major concern for voters. A survey showed nearly 70% of Peruvians want the next president to prioritize fighting crime.

In 2025, Lima recorded 23 homicides per 100,000 residents—the triple of five years ago. Extortion is particularly rampant in the transportation sector.

Thirty-three-year-old bus driver Jacobo Condor explained: "One passenger gets on board, and they might shoot you from behind."

At least 75 bus drivers were killed in 2025, mostly in Lima.

The right-wing candidate Fujimori has pledged to deploy the military to assist police in dismantling extortion rings and deporting foreign nationals convicted of crimes who are living illegally in Peru.

Speaking at her final campaign rally in Lima on Thursday, she declared: "We stand for progress; they represent regression."

Roberto Sánchez advocates a different approach. For him, combating crime begins with rebuilding trust in state institutions, strengthening the judiciary, and reforming the police force.

On Sunday, during his final campaign rally, he said: "The people will rise up, demanding democracy, human rights, social justice, and social peace." Wearing a farmer’s hat gifted by imprisoned former left-wing president Pedro Castillo, he declared his intention to carry forward Castillo’s political legacy.

Castillo, a former elementary school teacher, was jailed in 2022 after attempting to dissolve Congress. Sánchez has promised to pardon him if elected.

Sánchez initially received support from an extreme nationalist movement, but during the campaign, he adjusted his tone, emphasizing consensus, stability, and respect for institutions.

Source: rfi

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1867359433193480/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.