LIMA — Presidential candidate Roberto Sánchez stated on June 23, 2026, that he would not recognize the results of Peru's June 7 presidential runoff if officials counted ballots cast by Peruvians living overseas. Sánchez cites alleged election irregularities concerning these ballots.

Sánchez's campaign filed a petition requesting the rejection of overseas ballots. The campaign argues that Peruvian consulates abroad did not use a government-provided application to scan tally sheets, which is a legal requirement. The campaign argues that the procedural change created opportunities for fraud.

Peru's Foreign Affairs Ministry released a statement indicating it had secured authorization from electoral officials in late May to conduct voting at consulates without scanning tally sheets. The ministry added that the procedural change was implemented due to issues with the scanning application during the election's first round. After voting ended, tally sheets were sent directly to Lima for processing, the ministry stated. Peru's national elections agency, ONPE, and the Foreign Affairs Ministry both denied the allegation that the procedural change created opportunities for fraud.

With 99.72% of votes counted, Sánchez trails conservative candidate Keiko Fujimori by 40,000 votes. Data published by election authorities suggests Sánchez would win the election if the overseas votes were discarded. Sánchez said, "Under these conditions of transgression of the rules, we will not recognize the government of Miss (Keiko) Fujimori."

More than 18 million Peruvians participated in the runoff election, and over 307,000 Peruvians living abroad cast ballots. According to ONPE, 65% of Peruvians living abroad supported Fujimori. Fujimori received a majority of votes from Peruvians in the United States, Argentina, and Japan. Fujimori has not commented on Sánchez's request to annul the overseas votes.

Sánchez previously served as a commerce minister and is an ally of former President Pedro Castillo. He is popular in rural areas and among Peru's Indigenous population, with his campaign winning in mountainous areas of southern Peru. Sánchez lost to Fujimori in Lima, where about a third of Peru's voters reside. Sánchez has pledged to reform the nation's mining sector to provide community groups with a stake in copper and gold mines.

Peru has had eight presidents in the last decade, with only two elected by popular vote. The other six presidents replaced leaders who resigned or were removed by Peru's Congress due to corruption allegations. Over the past decade, Peru has maintained stable economic policies and is considered one of South America's fastest-growing economies.