Defeat Keiko Fujimori, Pedro Castillo Becomes Peru's President

JAKARTA - Radical left candidate Pedro Castillo was declared the winner of the presidential election in Peru by electoral authorities on Monday, July 19. More than a month after the second round of elections in which he spoke out against the populist right's candidate, Keiko Fujimori.

"I declare the President of the Republic José Pedro Castillo Terrones," said the chairman of the National Jury (JNE), Jorge Luis Salas, during a virtual briefing.

The electoral authority responsible for investigating the appeal confirmed the results of the General Elections Agency (ONPE) several weeks ago.

At the end of the 100% ballot tally, ONPE Pedro Castillo won with 50.12 percent of the vote, against 49.87 percent of the vote from his rival, Keiko Fujimori.

According to the results that have been approved by the JNE, Castillo voters were 44,263 votes. Keiko Fujimori is the daughter of former president Alberto Fujimori who ruled from 1990 to 2000.

"Today I announce my commitment to all Peruvians by fulfilling my obligations, to the international community, I will recognize the result, because that is what the law and the Constitution require that I swear to defend," Keiko said.

In the case of the Castillo government, Keiko Fujimori also argues, was the target of an investigation into alleged bribery during the 2011 and 2016 presidential campaigns, during which he failed in the second round. He has served 16 months of pre-trial detention and is serving a 30-year prison sentence.

The observation mission of the Organization of American States, the United States and the European Union argued that voting in Peru was free and transparent. Castillo will take office on July 28, the day that interim president Francisco Sagasti's term ends.