Star Metro - Runoff looms as Fujimori leads troubled Peru vote

Fujimori, the 50-year-old daughter of a disgraced former president, led with about 16 percent of the vote, according to pollsters at Ipsos and Datum.

A string of candidates followed in a statistical tie for second place and the final spot in a June runoff.

About 27 million Peruvians were choosing between 35 presidential candidates in a race dominated by concerns over crime and corruption.

But election day was marred by delays and irregularities that sparked unproven accusations of foul play and cast a shadow over results.

Police and prosecutors moved into the election authority headquarters as polls were still open, probing the failure to deliver voting materials that left about 63,000 people unable to cast ballots.

Authorities said election materials failed to reach about 100 polling places, mostly in Lima, forcing dozens of centers to open hours late.

At 15 centers, angry voters waited for hours under the equatorial sun, only to be turned away when ballots failed to arrive.

"We have had a logistical problem, and we have done everything humanly possible to reduce it," said Piero Corvetto, head of the National Office of Electoral Processes.

"There is no possibility of fraud," he said. "There is full assurance that the election results will faithfully reflect the popular will."

Several candidates voiced unease and called for voting to be extended into Monday if necessary. Authorities closed the polls after extending voting by one hour.

Outside the election headquarters, a small group of protesters gathered as police guarded the building and investigators took statements.

"We cannot stay silent," said Karina Herrera, a 25‑year‑old administration student. "They have not made it easier for people to vote."

Officials said police also raided a private subcontractor, blamed for failing to deliver election materials on time.

The missing votes make up a small fraction of the total but could still matter in a close race.

In the 2021 election, just 238,000 votes separated second and third place.

Exit polls by Ipsos and Datum put Roberto Sanchez, Ricardo Belmont, Rafael Lopez Aliaga and Jorge Neito within a couple of points of each other in the race for second place.

No candidate was close to the 50 percent needed to win outright.

Crime dominated the campaign. The homicide rate has more than doubled in 10 years, while reported extortion cases jumped from 3,200 to 26,500 a year.

On the eve of the vote, Fujimori told AFP she would restore order by deploying the army in prisons, strengthening borders and deporting migrants.

A.Gagnon--SMC