Fujimori vs Sanchez: What to know about Peru’s presidential run-off election

The run-off follows a tumultuous first round of voting, which saw long lines, delayed results and accusations of fraud.

Nearly two months ago, on April 12, Peru held the first round of its presidential elections. But in the eight weeks since, confusion, protests and scandal have engulfed the results.

Now, on Sunday, Peruvians return to the polls to cast their ballots in the hotly contested run-off.

On one side is right-wing candidate Keiko Fujimori, a former first lady who served in the administration of her father, former President Alberto Fujimori.

Though her last name evokes a time of oppression for many Peruvians, she has been a finalist in the last four presidential races, campaigning on a platform to bring order to the country.

In the other corner is Congress member Roberto Sanchez, a former government minister who represents the left.

His path to the run-off has been tumultuous. Sanchez narrowly eked out a second-place finish in round one of the presidential election, prompting the third-place finisher to cry foul.

And since the results were announced, prosecutors have filed charges against Sanchez, accusing him of falsifying campaign finance disclosures, which he denies.

That’s just the latest chapter in an ongoing battle for Peru’s presidency. Over the past decade, nine different presidents have governed the country, many of them forced into resignation or toppled by impeachment.

What’s in store for round two of the 2026 presidential race? Let’s break it down.

All Peruvians are required to vote, even if they are abroad, or else face the possibility of a fine.

Peru’s government has announced that 2,506 polling stations will be available across 63 countries, from Cuba to the United States to Qatar. A total of 411,077 Peruvians voted from abroad in the first round, out of a total of more than 20 million votes cast.

A record 35 candidates were in the running to be president during the first round of the election on April 12.

But as election day unfolded, problems emerged. Ballots were not delivered on time to multiple voting sites, and polling stations opened hours late. The result was long lines that impeded approximately 52,000 people from voting.

To rectify the situation, election authorities granted an extension for voting in the affected areas, including the capital Lima and overseas sites like Paterson, New Jersey.

Early election results showed Keiko Fujimori far enough in the lead to secure a spot in the run-off. Who would join her, however, was less clear.

Left-wing candidate Roberto Sanchez and far-right former mayor Rafael