Presidential candidate Roberto Sánchez says he will refuse to recognise the results of Peru’s June 7 presidential run-off if officials count ballots cast by Peruvians overseas that he alleges were processed improperly.

With 99.72 per cent of votes counted, Sánchez trails conservative candidate Keiko Fujimori by just 40,000 votes and is expected to lose the election once authorities finish processing tally sheets. More than 18 million Peruvians participated in the run-off.

Sánchez, a former commerce minister popular in rural areas and among Peru’s Indigenous population, would win the election if votes cast by Peruvians living abroad are discarded, according to data published by election authorities.