López Aliaga’s fraud claims heat up Peru’s slow recount

Peru’s election has entered territory reminiscent of Honduras's late last year: more than a week after voters went to the polls, the outcome remains uncertain. While left-winger Roberto Sánchez Palomino has edged ahead of the religious conservative Rafael López Aliaga for second place by 0.1 percentage points, enough ballot boxes from Aliaga-leaning areas are still left to count — making it unclear who will join Keiko Fujimori in the June 7 runoff. 

Betting markets currently rate Sánchez as three times more likely to advance than López Aliaga, but the duo swapped positions multiple times during the last week, and another turnaround could still be possible with late-arriving votes from Peruvians living abroad, who massively favor Aliaga.

The combination of a close race and chaotic organization has stirred up tempers, with López Aliaga denouncing fraud at multiple public rallies and calling for a partial do-over, citing logistical failures in several districts favorable to him.