Socialists vs Fujimori: Peru vote sets stage for polarized presidential run-off

[Judi Lynn]

APRIL 12, 20217:53 AMUPDATED 5 HOURS AGO
By Marco Aquino
5 MIN READ

LIMA (Reuters) -Peru is set for a divisive presidential run-off between the Andean country’s ascendant socialists, buoyed by voter discontent over the economy and pandemic, and the conservative heir of the powerful and polarizing Fujimori dynasty

The first-round vote on Sunday took a surprise turn when socialist Pedro Castillo, a 51-year-old union leader and primary school teacher who was largely unknown before polling day, jumped into the lead.

The official count on Monday showed Castillo with 18% of the vote, with over 80% of ballots counted, followed by conservative Keiko Fujimori, the daughter of imprisoned ex-leader Alberto Fujimori who herself faces corruption allegations, with 13.2%.

That result, with both candidates well short of the simple majority needed to win outright, would mean the pair go head-to-head in a June 6 second-round vote.

Both candidates are divisive for different reasons. Castillo plans to rewrite the constitution and take the world’s No. 2 copper producer sharply to the left. Fujimori faces a probe over alleged money laundering for which prosecutors are seeking a 31-year prison sentence. She denies the charges.

More:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-peru-election-race/socialists-vs-fujimori-peru-vote-sets-stage-for-polarized-presidential-run-off-idUSKBN2BZ1GZ

[Judi Lynn]

1. Far-left Schoolteacher Takes Lead As Peru Counts Presidential Votes

By Luis Jaime CISNEROS and Francisco JARA on April 13 2021 9:15 AM

A far-left union leader and teacher has taken a surprise, though slim, lead in Peru's presidential election, and will likely face a rightwing rival in a runoff in June, incomplete results showed Monday.

With nearly 90 percent of ballots counted by Monday evening, leftist Pedro Castillo was in the lead with 18.83 percent -- much higher than predicted by opinion polls which had not even placed him in the top five.

He will likely square off on June 6 against corruption-accused Keiko Fujimori, a rightwing populist who has 13.21 percent, according to results released by the ONPE electoral office. It will be Fujimori's third shot at the top job.

Sunday's election, held in Peru's worst week of the coronavirus pandemic, saw no single candidate able to fire up crisis-weary voters and muster a decisive 51-percent majority.

More:
https://www.ibtimes.com.au/far-left-schoolteacher-takes-lead-peru-counts-presidential-votes-1703438