Peru: Pedro Pablo Kuczynski takes lead in closest elections in 50 years

Peru is witnessing its closest-fought elections in 50 years, with former investment banker Pedro Pablo Kuczynski taking the lead in the latest poll tally with a 0.34 percentage point edge over rival Keiko Fujimori.
In the latest update, by Peru's National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE), the margin between the two candidates widened to 57,000 votes in the latest update, two days after polls closed– a leap from the previous count with a difference of a mere few hundred votes.

                            
Supporters for both candidates have camped outside Peru's electoral office, keeping a watchful eye on any announcement made by the electoral body. Many Fujimori supporters have been demanding that the ballots be recounted. According to officials, around 1.7 percent of the votes are being questioned due to a lack of transparency and will be decided by local electoral panels.

Ballots from abroad and in the remote jungle villages are still to be counted. It is expected that Peruvians living in Europe and the United States will be crucial in deciding the final results.

A boy wears a headband with the name of Peruvian presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori in LimaJanine Costa / Reuters

Supporters of Peruvian presidential candidate Pedro Pablo Kuczynski waving flags stand outside Peru's National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) in LimaJanine Costa / Reuters

Police stand guard next to a supporter of Peruvian presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori outside Peru's National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) in LimaJanine Costa / Reuters

Supporters of Peruvian presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori shout slogans outside Peru's National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) in LimaJanine Costa / Reuters

A woman wears a headband with the name of Peruvian presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori in LimaJanine Costa / Reuters

A follower of Peruvian presidential candidate Pedro Pablo Kuczynski reacts as two exit polls out of three gave him a slight edge over his opponent Keiko Fujimori, in LimaGuadalupe Pardo/ Reuters

A dog looks on as police stand guard outside Peru's National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) in LimaJanine Costa / Reuters

A woman cries for joy after two exit polls gives opposition candidate Pedro Pablo Kuczynsk a slight edge over Fujimori, in LimaJanine Costa / Reuters

Suporters of Peru´s presidential candidate Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, protest in front of the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) in LimaErnesto Benavides/ AFP

Presidential candidate for the 'Peruanos por el Kambio' party Pedro Pablo Kuczynski celebrates the preliminary results from the run-off elections in LimaErnesto Benavides/ AFP

Supporters of Peru´s presidential candidate Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, protest in front of the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) in LimaErnesto Benavides/ AFP

Riot police stand guard during a protest in front of the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE), in LimaErnesto Benavides/ AFP

A supporter of Peru´s presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori protests in front of the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) in LimaErnesto Benavides/ AFP

Supporters of Peru´s presidential candidate Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, protest in front of the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) in LimaErnesto Benavides/ AFP

Supporters of Peru´s presidential candidate Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, protest in front of the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) in LimaErnesto Benavides/ AFP

Supporters of Peru´s presidential candidate Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, protest in front of the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) in LimaErnesto Benavides/ AFP

Peruvian presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori of the Fuerza Popular party gives supporters the thumbs-up from a balcony after voting in the run-off election in LimaLuka Gonzales/ AFP

Supporters of Keiko Fujimori of the Fuerza Popular party react to the appearance of their leaderLuka Gonzales/ AFP

Supporters of presidential candidate for the 'Peruanos por el Kambio' party Pedro Pablo Kuczynski cheer for him in LimaMartin Bernetti/ AFP

Supporters of Peruvian presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori stand outside Peru's National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) in LimaJanine Costa / Reuters

Supporters of Peru´s presidential candidate Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, protest in front of the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) in LimaErnesto Benavides/ AFP