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

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. Recommended Stories list of 3 items end of list 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. …