Peru election in balance as poll gives Fujimori razor-thin lead

The statistical tie had Fujimori leading with 50.3% of the vote, while Castillo had 49.7%, within the margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points, according to the poll.

The results do not include overseas voters, who electoral officials said could be key in swinging the results.

Polls closed in the election at 7 p.m. (0000 GMT). A fast count by Ipsos is due at 9:30 p.m. (0230 GMT on Monday), with the first official results expected to start arriving at 11:30 p.m. (0430 GMT).

Millions voted on Sunday to pick between two candidates espousing clashing ideologies in a close runoff that has deeply divided voters along class and geographical lines.

Opinion polls up to the day of the election showed a statistical dead heat, with Fujimori, who had earlier trailed leftist Pedro Castillo, pulling slightly ahead at the end of campaigning.

Both have pledged vastly different remedies for rescuing Peru from the economic doldrums brought on by the COVID-19 crisis.

Fujimori, 46, the daughter of jailed former President Alberto Fujimori, has pledged to follow the free-market model and maintain economic stability in the world’s second-largest copper producer.

Castillo, 51, a teacher, union leader and son of peasant farmers, has promised to redraft the country's constitution to strengthen the role of the state, take a larger portion of profits from mining firms and nationalize key industries.

But with neither candidate having a clear lead in the polls, hints of possible electoral challenges by both camps and a deep mistrust of the political class generated by decades of corruption and instability could pose problems after the election.