Sanchez gains support from former rivals while warning of democratic risks under Fujimori.

On Thursday, Keiko Fujimori and Roberto Sanchez wrapped up their political campaigns and are preparing to compete for Peru’s presidency in Sunday’s runoff election.

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Fujimori, the candidate of the far-right Popular Force party, focused on public insecurity and a “war” against criminals, while Sanchez, the candidate of the leftist Together for Peru party, vowed to hold a popular consultation to replace the 1993 Constitution enacted during the dictatorship of Alberto Fujimori.

“To the economic, political and social sectors, to all of Peru, to the 35 million Peruvians: We will hold a major referendum and ask: ‘Dear people, the time has come, do you want a new Constitution?'” Sanchez said.

Polling firms indicate that the percentage gap between the two candidates is within the statistical margin of error, meaning the final outcome of the vote cannot be predicted with certainty. The election will determine Peru’s president for the 2026-2031 term after a decade of instability during which the country had eight presidents.

During a news conference in Lima, several former presidential candidates and political leaders expressed their support for Sanchez amid concerns over the possible return of an authoritarian regime under Keiko.

Among those endorsing the leftist candidate were Alfonso Lopez Chau (Nation Now), Ricardo Belmont and Daniel Barragan (Obras), George Forsyth (We are Peru), Mesias Guevara (Partido Morado) and Yhony Lescano (Cooperacion Popular).

“June 7 is a fundamental day, a historic moment for Peru. I want you to know that I will not let you down, because I walk alongside my father, my mother, my wife and daughters, my people, and this team of good and decent men and women to recover Peru,” Sanchez said in thanking his former electoral rivals.

“I do not want power in my country to have all the power. If Keiko wins, she will control everything and there will be no separation of powers. For me, the separation of powers is the foundation of every constitution and every country,” Lopez Chau said, explaining his decision to support Sanchez in defense of popular sovereignty and economic growth.

“I do not want to see any more takeover of institutions by Fujimorismo,” Forsyth said, urging Peruvians not to vote for the “mafia pact” formed by the parties that have held power since 2016, when Fujimorismo began controlling the legislature and generated instability in the country.

The leftist presidential candidate promised to restore democracy, reestablish the balance of powers, repeal the so-called “pro-crime laws,” and restore the right to a referendum. Sanchez also assured that his political coalition would respect the results of the runoff election and urged Fujimori to do the same.

“We are prepared to accept the electoral results, and I reaffirm that. In fact, we urge Keiko not to send ambiguous messages and to be clear regarding the electoral process,” he stressed.

The leftist politician warned that Fujimori has avoided explicitly stating whether she will respect the popular vote and recalled that she did not acknowledge her defeat in the 2021 election, when former President Pedro Castillo defeated her by a margin of 44,000 votes.

Sanchez also warned that the far-right candidate could trigger a new period of political and institutional instability if she resorts to the strategy of justifying a defeat by alleging electoral fraud.

To guarantee the transparency of the electoral process, the left-wing candidate called on 90,000 party members to monitor polling stations and formally requested international electoral observation.

“I call on observers from the Organization of American States and the European Union to oversee the electoral process so that the people’s will may be reaffirmed and recognized,” Sanchez stated.

teleSUR/ JF

Sources: EFE – La Linea

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