According to the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE), with 99.935 percent of the ballots counted, Castillo is ahead of Fujimori by over 49,000 votes.
The Free Peru (Peru Libre) candidate has 50.14 percent of the valid ballots, that is, 8,833,185 votes, whereas the Popular Force (Fuerza Popular) candidate has 49.86 percentage points, nearly 8,784,000 votes.
Castillo has been acknowledged as the eventual winner of the presidential runoff because, with only 0.065 percent of the ballots to be processed, it is mathematically impossible for Fujimori to bridge the difference.
This certainty, probable since a few days, has prompted governments from some countries, relevant political figures and social and trade union organizations to congratulate Castillo, who assured that his administration will respect democracy, the Constitution, and that he will work to achieve the financial and economic stability of the country.
However, Peruvians must wait for all ballots to be processed before the ONPE declares the leftist candidate the official winner of the election.
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