Peru's run-off: Fujimori vs Sanchez in razor-tight race

Peru’s duelling presidential hopefuls have made a final pitch to voters, capping a bruising and razor-tight race dominated by anger over rising crime and political instability. Conservative Keiko Fujimori and leftist Roberto Sanchez staged rival events in Lima on Thursday ahead of Sunday’s vote, with ardent flag-waving supporters arguing their “communist” or “dictator” opponents would bring the country to ruin. Each candidate has framed the election as a turning point for a country that has burned through eight presidents in a decade. Polls show them separated by only a few points, with roughly a fifth of voters still undecided in the last week of the campaign.

The ideological divide is stark: Fujimori supporters fear a leftist turn toward Venezuela-style socialism, while Sanchez backers see Fujimori’s family legacy of authoritarian rule as a threat to democracy. The first round, with dozens of candidates, reflected widespread frustration with Peru’s political class. As the campaign enters its final days, both sides are mobilizing fervent supporter bases, making the outcome highly uncertain. The winner will inherit a nation plagued by instability, institutional distrust, and economic challenges, with the shadow of dictatorship looming over the choice.