Peru presidential front-runner Castillo rushed to clinic, suspends campaigning

[Judi Lynn]

April 29, 2021
5:25 PM CDT
Americas

Marco Aquino



Supporters of Peru's presidential candidate Pedro Castillo of Peru Libre party, who will compete head-to-head with right-wing candidate Keiko Fujimori in a second-round ballot in June, stand in front of the party headquarters in Lima, Peru April 20, 2021. REUTERS/Sebastian Castaneda/File Photo

2 minute read

Peruvian front-running left-wing presidential candidate Pedro Castillo was rushed to a clinic in Lima on Thursday for "respiratory" illness, forcing him to suspend campaigning, the candidate's party said on social media.

Castillo, a 51-year-old primary school teacher set to face right-wing candidate Keiko Fujimori in a runoff in early June, fell ill shortly after arriving in the capital following several days of campaigning in northern Peru.

Castillo's political party, Peru Libre, announced the situation on Twitter but did not immediately provide further details.

"Our candidate @PedroCastilloTe is being rushed to a clinic in Lima due to a respiratory decompensation. Today's scheduled activities are suspended," the party said.

More:
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/peru-presidential-front-runner-castillo-rushed-clinic-suspends-campaigning-2021-04-29/?rpc=401&

[dhol82]

1. What's the Covid rate in Peru?

[Backseat Driver]

2. Per worldometer:

New cases: 8,659
New deaths: 361
Active Cases: 42,806
Total Pop: 33,350,215

[dhol82]

3. Could be.

[Judi Lynn]

4. This might help, maybe: COVID-19 pandemic in Peru

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Peru#April_2020

[Judi Lynn]

5. Peru presidential front-runner Castillo returns to campaign trail after health blip

April 30, 2021
12:10 PM CDT
Americas

Marco Aquino

3 minute read

The front-runner in Peru's presidential race, left-winger Pedro Castillo, returned to the campaign trail on Friday, a day after he was rushed to a clinic in the capital Lima for treatment for a respiratory illness, he told supporters in a tweet.

Castillo said doctors diagnosed a throat infection and that he would return to active campaigning as well as participating in his first debate on Saturday with rival in the June run-off, Keiko Fujimori.

"Nothing will stop us in our march with the people towards a shared dream of justice and freedom," he wrote.

Castillo, a 51-year-old primary school teacher, fell ill shortly after arriving to hold rallies in Lima on Thursday following several days of campaigning in northern Peru.

The leftist candidate had stretched his lead to 20 points ahead of right-wing Fujimori five days ago but the latest poll suggests that has now narrowed with just over a month to go until the election in the world's second-largest copper producer.

More:
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/peru-presidential-front-runner-castillo-returns-campaign-trail-after-health-blip-2021-04-30/