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Original article: Conteo cerrado, proclamación pendiente: Fujimori lidera por estrecho margen y Perú espera definición del JNE

The National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) completed the count of 100% of the ballots in the presidential runoff in Peru on Monday, revealing that far-right candidate Keiko Fujimori holds a slim lead of just 49,641 votes over leftist candidate Roberto Sánchez, although the official proclamation is still pending the National Jury of Elections (JNE) amidst a climate of political tension and allegations of irregularities shaking the electoral process.

The final count, which lasted three weeks due to the complexity of processing contested ballots, resulted in an almost tied outcome that keeps the nation on edge. Fujimori (Popular Force) garnered 50.135% of the valid votes, totaling 9,223,396 votes, while Sánchez (Together for Peru) secured 49.865% with 9,173,755 votes, according to official data provided by ONPE. The margin of 49,641 votes marks one of the closest margins recorded in Peru’s electoral history.

The completion of the count was made possible by the resolution of contested ballots by the Special Electoral Jurisdictions, which thoroughly reviewed ballots with inconsistencies, strikeouts, or any issues preventing their immediate incorporation into the official count. With this step, ONPE successfully processed the 92,766 electoral documents related to the presidential runoff held on June 7, closing a crucial phase of the electoral process amidst public anticipation.

Keiko Fujimori stated that if proclaimed, she is committed to fostering dialogue with all political sectors, while Roberto Sánchez maintains a firm stance questioning the electoral process, insisting on pointing out a series of irregularities that could undermine the transparency of the elections. His supporters continue to promote mobilizations and protests, as reported by Caretas.

The official proclamation of the presidential ticket is solely the responsibility of the National Jury of Elections (JNE), which must complete the legal stages before issuing its final verdict. If no new setbacks or legal challenges delay the process, the elected individual is expected to assume the presidency of Peru on July 28, in a complex context marked by political polarization, high levels of insecurity, and an economic crisis.

Secretary General of ONPE Resigns Amid Document Manipulation Allegations

However, the electoral landscape has been abruptly shaken by an internal crisis that could compromise the credibility of the entire system, as the Secretary General of ONPE, Elar Bolaños Llanos, resigned amid serious accusations involving manipulation of computer systems and alteration of documents.

In an open letter, he denounced «serious factors related to the manipulation of my computing systems with information that I did not generate or draft,» warning that this situation poses a «severe risk» to ONPE and, by extension, to the regional and municipal elections scheduled for October this year, reported Diario Red.

The former official alerted about the «constant influx of requests through the Document Management System, compromised and with serious impacts on personal data,» which would have affected the proper processing of files. Bolaños emphasized the «seriousness of the facts related to false evidence» and stated his willingness to cooperate with justice for the necessary investigations, leaving open the question of whether these irregularities could indicate deeper issues within the recently concluded electoral process.

The political future of Peru hangs in the balance: as the JNE deliberates on the final proclamation, the allegations of manipulation within the electoral body sketch a uncertain landscape that threatens to deepen the institutional crisis and further polarize an already fractured society.

La entrada Counting Finalized, Outcome Awaited: Fujimori Leads by Narrow Margin as Peru Awaits JNE Decision se publicó primero en El Ciudadano.