Washington calls Peru election 'fair' despite Fujimori claims of voter fraud

Peru's presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori addresses supporters in Lima, Peru June 19, 2021. REUTERS/Gerardo Marin

LIMA (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department said on Tuesday that Peru's recent presidential election was "a model of democracy," despite efforts by conservative candidate Keiko Fujimori to get ballots thrown out while raising accusations of voter fraud.

Peruvians went to the polls on June 6. Electoral authorities are still evaluating challenges to some ballots while preliminary results narrowly favor socialist Pedro Castillo over Fujimori, daughter of jailed ex-President Alberto Fujimori.