Keiko Fujimori Retakes Lead in Tense Peru Presidential Race

Conservative candidate Keiko Fujimori has taken a narrow lead over her leftist rival Roberto Sanchez in Peru's closely contested presidential election. With 98.21% of votes counted, Fujimori holds a slight edge with just 650 votes. The final results may face delays as votes undergo judicial review.

In an unexpected turn, Keiko Fujimori has inched ahead in Peru's presidential race, regaining a slight lead against leftist contender Roberto Sanchez. As overseas ballots surged in Fujimori's favor late Wednesday, she now stands at 50.002%, with Sanchez narrowly behind at 49.998%, equating to a mere 650-vote advantage.

Peru's ONPE electoral authority reports that 98.21% of polling stations have submitted their votes - around 18 million - yet legal hurdles remain. About 1.76% of votes, mainly from Lima, await judicial review, a process potentially extending over several weeks, adding tension to the already razor-thin margin.

Both candidates urged perseverance during the vote tallying process, with Fujimori cautiously optimistic and Sanchez expressing concern over 'strange' electoral occurrences. Meanwhile, Sanchez supporters demonstrated outside election offices, underscoring the heated and polarized nature of the election.