Keiko Fujimori’s rise in the latest election results, as the ONPE vote count reaches 98.325%, has sparked massive demonstrations by the public, who have taken to the streets to protest what they consider a premeditated “electoral fraud”—a scheme that would explain why the candidate’s rise is not solely due to votes from abroad.
This morning, candidate Roberto Sánchez called for calm and proposed that his opponent, Keiko Fujimori, join forces in support of democracy—a move the public has viewed as a very “lukewarm” message given the “risk of fraud” that “would not respect the will of the people.”
According to ONPE results, Sánchez defeated his opponent in 16 regions of the country (with percentages ranging from 51% to 85%), while Fujimori won in 9 regions (between 51% and 65%) in addition to the overseas vote (63.4%). The counting process includes more than 1,630 observed ballots whose votes have not been included in the official tally; this could benefit the candidate. Meanwhile, the Special Jury of Lima rejected the request by Juntos por el Perú to annul 1,751 polling stations in Peru and the United States for failing to pay the electoral fee, which exceeded 2 million soles.
Generation Z: Respect for the Will of the People
Various groups, including Generation Z Peru, have called for a “citizen mobilization in defense of the popular vote and the vote of our brothers and sisters in rural areas” tomorrow, Saturday, June 13.
“We can no longer remain silent. In the past, the voice of the people was ignored on issues such as the bicameral system; today we observe with concern that once again there is an attempt to disregard the people’s outcry. This is not a struggle of the right or the left. It is a struggle for respect for the will of the Peruvian people. The vote of our brothers and sisters in the regions is worth just as much as the vote in Lima. All Peruvians are equal, and we deserve to have our decision respected. Enough corruption. Enough abuse. Enough of turning our backs on the people. We call on all citizens who believe in democracy and respect for the popular vote to join us,” the flyers stated.
Armed Forces Mobilize
During the day, alternative media outlets such as Noticias Live reported that in Ica (south of Lima), “intimidation and repression began in the Chino neighborhood of Ica, where military personnel were deployed in anticipation of possible blockades. It hasn’t been officially confirmed yet, but they’ve already started intimidating the population. ‘They want to subdue us at gunpoint if we protest,’ were the words of a father,” the outlet reported (see photos).
ANP: Sanctions Against Marches
For its part, the National Association of Journalists (ANP) reported that Lima Mayor Renzo Reggiardo (Renovación Popular) announced sanctions against marches in the historic center. “We are going to enforce the law,” said the mayor; which could further inflame the social situation.
Hildebrandt Speaks Out
Respected journalist César Hildebrandt, on his TikTok account “Hildebrandt en sus 13,” spoke out regarding the issue of fraud, noting that “the fraud preceded the elections. What the ONPE did, but no one has yet proven that there was a high-level conspiracy during the vote count. The fraud occurred earlier, when the corrupt coalition that governs us wove its web and distorted the electoral reform, tailoring it to suit its own interests.”
“Fraud is that those who lost the 2021 elections ended up governing from Congress. Fraud is that Fujimorism, which holds the congressional majority in 2026 after the first round, intends to enter the presidential palace to effectively ensure a dictatorial government like that of Alberto Fujimori. “It is fraud that we have a Senate that will block any substantial reform should anyone propose it,” he stated in his weekly editorial.
As the ONPE continues its vote count, the social climate continues to heat up, and the authorities’ stances are fueling polarization…
Videos:
Victor Ly Peru
Hildebrandt at 13
