Susana Villarán continues to maintain a narrow lead over Lourdes Flores with more than 65 percent of the ballots counted on Monday from the election for Lima’s mayor, according to the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE).
With 68.8 percent of the votes counted, Villarán, a moderate leftist, leads with 38.7 percent followed by 37.1 percent for Flores, a conservative and two-time presidential candidate, daily El Comercio reported.
In third place is Humberto Lay of the Restauracion Nacional party with 8.6 percent.
While Flores says she is still confident in pulling off a victory and will wait for all votes to be counted, political analysts say it will be extremely difficult for the former congresswoman to win.
“I dare say that it is almost impossible that the scenario changes,” said Fernando Tuesta, the director of the Catholic University’s Institute of Public Opinion.
The head of polling firm Ipsos Apoyo agreed, saying that in the end the difference between the two candidates will probably not be more than 2 percentage points.
72.83% counted
Susana Villarán 38.47%
Lourdes Flores 37.63%