Peru Electoral Head Resigns Amid Election Delays

LIMA, Peru - The head of Peru's National Office of Electoral Processes resigned Tuesday amid logistical failures that disrupted the country's presidential election on April 12, leaving officials still tallying votes more than a week later without declaring finalists for a June 7 runoff.

Piero Corvetto, who led the agency responsible for organizing elections, announced his departure in a letter to authorities and a social media post. He denied any irregularities or personal fault but stated that the election-day issues warranted his resignation to restore public trust ahead of the second round. The first-round vote, which included more than 30 presidential candidates and hundreds seeking congressional seats, required an extension into an additional day after voting materials failed to reach over a dozen polling centers in Lima. This delay prevented at least 52,000 people from casting ballots on the initial voting day.

Counting continues as tally sheets arrive from remote regions and Peruvian consulates overseas. No candidate secured a majority, necessitating a runoff between the top two finishers. With 93.8 percent of votes processed, conservative leader Keiko Fujimori holds a...