Ruptly

'We hope that there is change for the better' - Chile's Peruvian diaspora cast overseas ballots ahead of landmark presidential runoff

"Hundreds of Peruvian citizens residing in Chile went to the polls in Santiago this Sunday to participate in the second round of presidential elections taking place in Peru, where candidates Keiko Fujimori from Fuerza Popular and Roberto Sanchez from Juntos por el Peru are competing. From the early hours of the morning, voters began arriving at the electoral centre set up at the 'Liceo Arturo Alessandri Palma' school. The day proceeded in an atmosphere of normality and with an organisation that several voters considered more efficient compared to previous processes. "For what it was last time, it was something horrible, but now it is more organised. Well, and what we hope for […] is to want to return to our country, for everything to be fixed," said Niodia Flores, a Peruvian citizen residing in Chile. Chile is home to one of the largest Peruvian communities in the world. According to figures from Chile's National Migration Service and the National Institute of Statistics (INE), by the end of 2024, 260,785 Peruvian citizens lived in Chilean territory, equivalent to 13 percent of the country's foreign population. Political uncertainty, corruption, and the economic situation continue to rank among voters' biggest concerns. "What I hope for my country, whoever the candidate may be […] that they do a management that we all desire with principle and sensitivity from each of them," said Cesar Guisabalos, a voter. "I hope for my country that there is a change for the better, especially for the youth who are the future of the country. And that there is less corruption," expressed Olga Gaviria, a Peruvian citizen. Fellow citizens pointed out that, although they have built a new life in Chile, they remain attentive to the economic, social, and security situation in Peru, hoping that conditions will one day allow their return. Fujimori secured 17% of the votes in the first electoral round, while Sanchez received 12% in a highly fragmented election that left 33 other presidential candidates out of the race."