The U.S. State Department congratulated conservative candidate Keiko Fujimori on Tuesday after she was declared the winner of Peru’s presidential runoff election by a razor-thin margin. According to the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE), Fujimori secured 50.1% of the vote, winning by fewer than 50,000 votes out of approximately 18 million ballots cast.

"The United States congratulates President-Elect Keiko Fujimori of Peru on her important electoral victory," the department said. The statement also highlighted expectations for close collaboration between the Trump Administration and the incoming Fujimori Administration to advance security cooperation and strengthen bilateral investment and trade relations in the Latin American region.

Fujimori, the daughter of former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori who governed in the 1990s, campaigned on transforming her party, Fuerza Popular, into a modern conservative, law-and-order movement. Her victory comes amid rising violent crime, extortion, and years of political instability in Peru.

The country’s final electoral authority, the National Jury of Elections (JNE), has yet to issue its official proclamation.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio was also noted in related diplomatic contexts ahead of the election.

Sources