Breaking News: Keiko Fujimori has officially been declared Peru’s president-elect following a tightly contested runoff election.
Keiko Fujimori, the conservative politician and daughter of former president Alberto Fujimori, has been declared the winner of Peru’s presidential runoff election, Fox News reports. The 51-year-old will assume office later this month as the nation’s ninth president in ten years, following a vote count confirming she received 9,223,000 votes – 50.14% of the total.
The result, certified by Peru’s top election authority, narrowly defeated nationalist congressman Roberto Sánchez who received 9,173,000 votes – 49.87% (Associated Press). This marks Fujimori’s fourth attempt at the presidency, occurring after she surpassed 33 other candidates in April. The victory follows a period of significant political instability within Peru, where public concern over surging crime – particularly extortion by organised gangs – was a defining issue. Fujimori campaigned on a platform of restoring order with an “iron fist”, according to the report.
The US State Department congratulated Fujimori on her win, signalling a desire for closer ties. A statement relayed by Fox News declared the Trump administration “looks forward to deepening collaboration…to advance security cooperation and to strengthen bilateral cooperation on investment and trade.” The election takes place against the backdrop of a controversial legacy attached to Fujimori’s father, Alberto, who was convicted of human rights abuses and corruption during his presidency in the 1990s.
Fujimori has stated she will approach her new role with “responsibility, humility, and a deep sense of duty”, promising dialogue and preparation during the transition period (X post, translated).
The new administration will likely face significant challenges related to crime and political divisions.
Sources: Fox News, Associated Press, X (via Fox News).
