In this picture released by Peruvian news agency Andina, Peruvian presidential candidate for the Free Peru Party, Pedro Castillo, signs a voters log after casting his vote at a polling station in Cajamarca, Peru, during general elections on April 11, 2021. (PHOTO / AFP)

LIMA - Peruvian presidential candidate Pedro Castillo, a school teacher running for the Free Peru party, is leading Sunday's general elections with 16.1 percent of the vote, according to the results of an exit poll published by local media.

Preliminary data also showed candidates Hernando de Soto, of the Advance Country party, and Keiko Fujimori, of the Popular Force party, were vying for the second place with 11.9 percent of votes each.

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If maintaining the lead, Castillo will face off against the runner-up, to be defined in the next few hours between De Soto and Fujimori, in a June 6 runoff.

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