Leftist Sanchez takes lead in polarized Peru election - Reuters

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiwgFBVV95cUxQZkFGRHU5OWo5RWxaVEhNS1FoRnh5Z1dwZUE3d3pSdFhXN24xeVVyUkYweFpZcDhaUjRUaEh2Yl83WXIwb0YxcmNaOXpaakl6YlloYUM4SlZnUGllMXRoZDU4ZllfWGYyOEhWbzVqN0Qyell5eE1lOTRUcEp6bDVBbmVROTQwaGxJdkhxaVk2bGh0RW04MGJTREV5QVNxbWRTeXhvampKd25SMkJtUFF3MExxZUlUd2ZhSkhKZzFSMGU3dw?oc=5" target="_blank">Leftist Sanchez takes lead in polarized Peru election</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">Reuters</font>

Leftist candidate Roberto Sanchez has taken a slim lead over conservative rival Keiko Fujimori in Peru's presidential election, with official vote-counting extending into a second day. As of now, 94.9% of the votes are tallied, showing Sanchez at 50.10% and Fujimori at 49.90%, leaving the results too close to call. Amid the election, concerns over crime and economic issues dominated voter priorities, with a shift towards more conservative politics anticipated. Early results had Fujimori leading, but as more ballots from rural areas are counted, Sanchez has gained ground. Following his rise, Peru's Sol currency initially dipped but has since stabilized as foreign ballots are expected to favor Fujimori. Sanchez, aligned with jailed ex-President Pedro Castillo, has proposed constitutional reforms, windfall taxes, and a pardon for Castillo, stirring investor anxiety despite gaining rural support. Peru's role as a top copper producer adds weight to the economic stakes as the nation awaits final election results.

The left- and right-wing contenders in Peru’s presidential race were neck and neck as counting of the votes cast in Sunday’s election neared completion. With more than 92 percent of polling centres reporting results on Monday, right-wing candidate Keiko Fujimori held a slender lead over leftist rival congressman Roberto Sanchez. The even split illustrates deep political polarisation in the South American country. Fujimori, a four-time candidate and daughter of former hardline President Alberto Fujimori, was less than one percentage point ahead on 50.2 percent, versus Sanchez’s 49.8 percent. The count was expected to narrow further as the final ballots were tallied in rural areas, where Sanchez has dominated in Peru’s tense election season. Both of the rivals are vying to become the South American country’s ninth leader in a decade, following a series of forced resignations and impeachments.

Leftist congressman Roberto Sanchez took a slim lead against conservative Keiko Fujimori in Peru’s presidential race on Monday as official vote-counting continued into a second day, with a final result potentially weeks away. With about 94.9% of votes tallied, Sanchez rose to 50.10%, while Fujimori dropped to 49.90%. Most voters who cast ballots in the election on Sunday said they were concerned about crime and the economy, and a rightward shift similar that to seen in other recent Latin American contests had been widely predicted. Fujimori led early results and exit polls, but Sanchez has been gaining ground since Sunday night as ballots from Peru’s rural regions are counted. Markets and the local Sol currency dipped earlier on Monday as votes for Sanchez rose, but have since steadied, with Fujimori expected to benefit from pending foreign ballots. Sanchez, a minister under jailed ex-President Pedro Castillo, has aimed to emulate Castillo’s rural appeal, even wearing the former leader’s wide-brimmed cowboy hat throughout the campaign. Aside from reforming the constitution, Sanchez has proposed pardoning Castillo - serving an 11-year prison sentence after attempting to dissolve Congress in 2022 - imposing windfall taxes, a wealth tax and reforming mining concessions. The proposals have drawn support from Peru’s vast rural regions, including the country’s increasingly powerful informal mining sector, but have unsettled investors. In a note before the election, Fitch said a “Sanchez win would raise uncertainty about taxation, royalties, contract stability and state intervention.”