Peru to hold presidential runoff after no candidate wins majority

LIMA, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Peru will hold a presidential runoff after no candidate won more than 50 percent of the vote in the April 12 election, according to results released Friday by the National Office of Electoral Processes.

With all ballots counted, Keiko Fujimori of the right-wing Popular Force party led with 17.18 percent of the vote, followed by Roberto Sanchez of the left-wing Together for Peru party at 12.03 percent. Rafael Lopez Aliaga of the far-right Popular Renewal party ranked third with 11.9 percent.

Under Peruvian electoral law, a presidential candidate must win more than 50 percent of the vote in the first round to be elected. If no candidate reaches the threshold, the top two candidates advance to a second round. The runoff is scheduled for June 7, with the candidate receiving the most votes elected president.

Peru held presidential and legislative elections on April 12 to choose a new president, vice presidents, members of both chambers of Congress, and representatives to the Andean Parliament, for a term running until 2031.

Fujimori, 50, is the daughter of former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori. She supports a pro-market, investment-focused agenda and tough measures against crime.

Sanchez, 57, advocates changes to Peru's development model and a stronger role for the state in the economy. On security, he has called for addressing crime through governance reforms and social policy. Enditem