Peru’s Presidential Candidates Face Off in Sole Debate Before Runoff

Photo: EFE.

Photo: EFE.


June 1, 2026 Hour: 1:47 am

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Peruvian Presidential candidates Keiko Fujimori of the far‑right Fuerza Popular party and Roberto Sánchez of the leftist tendency confronted their political and economic proposals on Sunday during the only official debate before Peru’s second‑round election scheduled for next Sunday, June 7.


Fujimori defended the 1993 Constitution’s privatization of national resources and Sánchez questioned the current model and calling to save democracy from structures that hijacked the justice system.

RELATED: Thousands March in Peru Against Presidential Candidate Keiko Fujimori

The televised debate was organized into four thematic blocks: citizen security, strengthening the democratic state and human rights, education and health, and economy/employment/poverty reduction.

Fujimori focused her speech on ordering the nation to ensure private sector growth, a rhetoric aligned with Washington Consensus recipes. Sánchez, who is running in place of imprisoned former president Pedro Castillo (under whom he served as a minister), affirmed his Ayacuchano roots and his faith, claiming local government experience. He directly pointed at Fuerza Popular and Keiko Fujimori as responsible for corroding the country.

Sánchez supporters mobilized with white, red, and green flags. According to an Ipsos poll released the same Sunday, Sánchez entered the debate nearly three percentage points behind his rival. A citizen named Juancho, a follower of the leftist project, expressed the popular desire for change and demanded laws oriented toward serving the people.

Author: Victor Miranda

Source: agencies