Peru’s Presidential Elects: A Tight Race

In Lima, Peru, supporters wave banners for presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori at her campaign rally. This Sunday, Peruvians will choose their new president amid a tight and polarized race. Polls suggest that perennial hard-right candidate Keiko Fujimori leads leftist Roberto Sánchez. However, around a quarter of voters remain undecided, and reports indicate that Sánchez may have closed the gap recently.

Keiko Fujimori is well-known for her father, the late President Alberto Fujimori. His legacy includes addressing hyperinflation and defeating the Maoist insurgents of the Shining Path, who terrorized the country during the 1980s and 1990s. However, it also encompasses severe human rights violations, including running death squads, shutting down congress, bribery, and corruption. Alberto Fujimori’s actions led to his 25-year prison sentence.

Political scientist Paula Távara comments that if Keiko wins, she might present a façade of moderation and democracy. Yet, she warns that Keiko could govern in an authoritarian manner, suppressing protests forcefully. Keiko Fujimori, aged 51, is running in her fourth consecutive runoff after losing narrowly in previous elections. She faces criticism for not accepting her previous losses gracefully and making unproven claims of electoral fraud in 2021. Critics also blame her for political obstruction, using her Popular Force party to impede corruption probes and destabilize governments. This turmoil has contributed to Peru’s political instability, exemplified by nine presidents in ten years.

Keiko pledges to tackle crime and disorder with an iron fist, echoing her father’s approach. She aims to curb the crime wave and extortions plaguing the nation. However, many argue she is partly responsible for the ongoing political chaos.

Her opponent, Roberto Sánchez, aged 57, is equally unpopular. He campaigns wearing a sombrero from Pedro Castillo, the ex-president who defeated Keiko in 2021. However, Castillo’s government collapsed amid allegations of extremism, incompetence, and corruption. He was removed and imprisoned in December 2022 after attempting to shut down congress and courts to avert corruption investigations.

Sánchez initially proposed nationalizing key economic sectors and prioritizing local production, policies akin to Cuba or North Korea. He has since adopted a centrist stance, yet his association with Antauro Humala, a radical ex-army officer convicted for leading a fatal uprising, undermines his moderate claims.

Polling stations close at 5 p.m. in Peru. Results could be announced that night, but if the vote is close, determining the winner might take days.