LIMA, June 20, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Peruvian left-wing presidential candidate Roberto Sanchez led a march in the capital Lima Friday night, joined by hundreds of supporters in demanding transparency in the runoff election he is narrowly trailing in against conservative candidate Keiko Fujimori.

Sanchez alleged irregularities when Fujimori's lead widened to 43,000 votes with 99.51 percent of ballots counted.

Fujimori has 50.11 percent of the vote and Sanchez has 49.88 percent, according to data from the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) website.

"The vote is not for sale! The vote must be defended!" protesters chanted in Lima's downtown streets.

"The people have chosen Roberto Sanchez, we do not recognize Keiko Fujimori, the people are not going to respect the vote validated by the electoral authorities," Yuri Guerra, 52, told AFP.

Before declaring a winner, election officials will need to review contested tally sheets of more than 120,000 votes, a process that could take at least two weeks.

Peru held its runoff election on June 7.

The Together for Peru party has also claimed that there were irregularities in the chain of custody of ex-pat ballots sent from the United States and Argentina.

The Peruvian Foreign Ministry has rejected any allegations of switching votes in favor of Fujimori.

"We are outraged by so much fraud. It's an abuse that Fujimori should win with votes from abroad," said Marisol Espinoza, a 65-year-old worker.

Fujimori defended the vote of those living outside Peru, telling reporters they "are valid and must be respected."

The runoff pitted the daughter of the late former president Alberto Fujimori against Sanchez, the political heir of former president Pedro Castillo. Both of those past presidencies ended in scandal.

The winner takes office July 28 for a five-year term.