Spotlight: Kuczynski edges out Fujimori in Peru's presidential vote count

Peruvian economist Pedro Pablo Kuczynski is expected to become the country's next president, counting results from the National Office of Electoral Processes showed on Thursday.

After a four-day count, 77-year-old Kuczynski, from the Peruvians for Change, edged out his rival Keiko Fujimori, from the Popular Force, with a wafer-thin margin, winning by 50.117 percent to 49.883 percent. The difference in the total votes was 41,438, with 8,580,474 votes for Kuczynski and 8,539,036 for Fujimori.

Yet the Fujimori side is waiting for a formal verdict from the National Electoral Tribunal (JNE).

On his Twitter account, Kuczynski thanked his supporters, saying "Thank you, Peru! It is time to work together for the future of our country."

In a speech in Lima immediately after the voting outcome was announced, a jubilant Kuczynski said he would be "seeking to work with all Peruvians. There are many of us who feel the train has passed them by but we want them all to board the train."

If Kuczynski wins, he will take over as president on July 28 from President Ollanta Humala for a mandate lasting until 2021. He pledged that he would work so that "by 2021, Peru will be a renewed country."

However, Fujimori's camp was quick to say that Fujimori would not officially recognize the result until the JNE verdict.

Her supporter, congressman Pedro Spadaro, told the press after the result was announced that "the JNE will have the final word on the entire electoral process. We will wait patiently ... for the Tribunal to give its verdict."

"If the results do not change ... we will recognize them," he added.

The candidacy of Fujimori, 41, had been widely criticized both in Peru and around the world as she is the daughter of Alberto Fujimori, president of Peru from 1990 to 2000, who is currently serving a long jail sentence on charges of human rights violation, murder, embezzlement and kidnapping, with some observers fearing Keiko would seek to bring back her father's tough policies.

Susana Villaran, former mayor of Lima and an influential figure in Peruvian politics, wrote on Facebook after the result that "democracy has won by a hair," while warning that "our people are divided in two."

Villaran encouraged Kuczynski to "lead fundamental processes," including reforms in the political and electoral systems, public security, the fight against corruption, protection of children, and the reduction of discrimination.

Certain analysts expressed concerns that Kuczynski might be close to the United States and orient policies to favor Washington.

Hector Bejar, a well-known Peruvian writer, told Venezuelan TV station TeleSUR that Kuczynski's government will have "a basically neoliberal economic orientation. On the political front ... this will mean a close relationship with the United States."

"However, Kuczynski will feel social pressure ... especially concerning mining investment and environmental protection. Widespread social struggles are likely in the coming years, so we hope for a dialogue between the left and this government," Bejar warned. Endi