In most countries, a runoff ballot in a presidential election is unwelcome. It means the public is divided, and it delays the crucial business of putting together a government. In Peru's case, news of a runoff is a positive sign. It means that President Alberto Fujimori is heeding the concerns of international observers who charged that last week's vote was tainted.

With almost all the ballots counted, Mr. Fujimori claimed 49.84 percent of the valid votes and the election commission declared that he had no chance of crossing the 50 percent threshold needed for an outright win. His main rival, Mr. Alejandro Toledo, collected 40.31 percent of the vote.

The count was marred by controversy. It proceeded at a worryingly slow pace and there were allegations of irregularities. Even before the vote, the campaign was tainted by the discovery that many names on a petition supporting the president were fake. Opposition candidates faced death threats and other forms of intimidation, while the government used its control of the mass media to run a vicious smear campaign.