LIMA — Keiko Fujimori,  the daughter of imprisoned former President Alberto Fujimori, topped the vote on Sunday in elections that will make her Peru’s first female leader if she wins a runoff, partial results showed.

Fujimori was on top with 38 per cent of votes in line with earlier exit polls, with one fifth of votes counted, state electoral body ONPE chief Mariano Cucho said in a televised address.

In second place came her centrist rival Pedro Pablo Kuczynski on 24.5 per cent.

Since Fujimori fell short of 50 per cent, she must now face Kuczynski in a runoff on June 5.

Both have promised to boost the economy and fight crime in the South American mineral-exporting country of 30 million people.

Fujimori earlier celebrated victory as unofficial surveys showed her far in the lead.

Voters "are demanding change. This is a great responsibility, which we are going to honor", she told cheering supporters.

"Peru wants reconciliation and no more conflict," she said.

"We invite all Peruvians on June 5 to opt for change and for the future, because the future of Peru is on the way."

Some 23 million Peruvians were called to vote in the election. — AFP