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Keiko Fujimori was sworn in as Peru’s president Tuesday after winning a close election that set an unprecedented milestone in Latin America.
She edged out Roberto Sánchez, a candidate who had more support within the country but ended up losing after votes from citizens living abroad were counted. It’s the first time such a scenario has ever happened.
The impact of overseas voters was also felt in Colombia’s presidential race this year. Abelardo de la Espriella won by about 250,000 votes, but his margin over Iván Cepeda would have been much closer — under 75,000 — if not for voters from abroad.
The results of these elections have focused greater attention on the diaspora vote, partly because those votes are the last part of the electorate to be counted. That makes it seem as if they play an especially decisive role, even though they count the same as votes from any province or region.
