Peru's leftist candidate Sanchez asks right-wing rival Fujimori to back vote recount

Peru's presidential runoff remains extremely tight. With 98.27% of votes counted, conservative candidate Keiko Fujimori leads with 50.005% against leftist Roberto Sanchez's 49.995%. The narrow margin has prompted Sanchez to propose a joint request for an official recount.

On Friday, Sanchez suggested at a press conference that both candidates ask electoral authorities for an exhaustive review of the entire process, citing alleged irregularities in Lima and among overseas votes. The proposal followed a demand from Fujimori's party to annul votes from the southern regions.

Fujimori took the lead late Wednesday after overseas ballots were tallied. Currently, challenged and disputed tally sheets are under review, a process that can take several days. Authorities estimate the final result could be announced within two to three weeks.

This is Fujimori's fourth presidential bid. She is the daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori, who was jailed for human rights violations. Sanchez is backed by former President Pedro Castillo, a schoolteacher currently jailed after a failed attempt to dissolve Congress in 2022.

Peru has endured years of political turmoil, with frequent changes in leadership. This election is seen as a critical attempt to restore stability.