Kuczynski maintains narrow lead over Fujimori in Peru elections

LIMA, June 7 (UPI) -- With more than 95 percent of votes counted in Peru's presidential elections, former World Bank executive Pedro Pablo Kuczynski is holding a less than 1 percent lead over Keiko Fujimori.

Kuczynski has 50.17 percent of the vote to 49.82 percent for the daughter of former longtime president, Alberto Fujimori. Officials said it could take days to declare a winner.

Fujimori's father was president for a decade before before charges of human rights abuses brought down his popular presidency. But Keiko, 41, who has said tackling crime is her top priority, could become president.

She had a larger lead before Sunday's polling, but corruption scandals in her Popular Force Party may have cut in to her support.

Kuczynski, 77, was also a former prime minister of Peru and has served as finance minister and energy minister as well. He is an ex-Wall Street financier, who has said he would use his international financial experience to promote economic growth.

If Fujimori loses, her Popular Force Party will still control nearly 60 percent of the seats in congress compared with 15 percent for Kuczynski's Peruvians for Change Party.

Many areas of Peru are remote and those votes, as well as some from overseas are yet to be counted, putting the final result likely days away.