Keiko Fujimori declared winner of razor-edge Peru election weeks after vote

Keiko Fujimori has been officially declared the winner of Peru's tightly contested presidential election, securing a razor-thin victory after weeks of anticipation and ballot review. This marks her fourth attempt at the presidency, with official results showing she garnered 50.135% of the vote against leftist challenger Roberto Sánchez in the June 7 runoff, a margin of fewer than 50,000 votes. Her win makes her Peru's first elected female president.

The declaration on Friday, July 3rd, followed a period of protests and accusations of fraud from Sánchez, who has refused to concede and challenged the results without evidence. Fujimori is set to assume office on July 28th, inheriting a nation grappling with political instability and high concerns over surging crime, a major theme of her campaign where she pledged to tackle crime with a firm hand.