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

[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/