Peru: Leftist Ex-Military Officer, Fujimori’s Daughter To Face Off In Runoff

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Election results in Peru indicate leftist, former army officer Ollanta Humala will face the daughter of imprisoned former president Alberto Fujimori in a presidential runoff election.

With more than 92 percent of the ballots counted from Sunday’s election, Humala led with nearly 32 percent of the vote, while Keiko Fujimori was in second with more than 23 percent.

Humala and Fujimori are set for a runoff on June 5.

Peru
Peru

The two will be competing for support from about 45 percent of voters who backed less divisive candidates. Former World Bank economist Pedro Pablo Kuczynski secured about 19 percent of the vote, while former President Alejandro Toledo was fourth with more than 15 percent support.

Analysts say many Peruvians question Humala’s and Fujimori’s credentials on human rights and see them as a threat to the democratic system.

Humala, who led an uprising against then-President Fujimori in 2000, lost a runoff election to current President Alan Garcia in 2006. Humala was outspoken during that campaign about his admiration for Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, but he has since distanced himself from the leftist leader.

Some Peruvians distrust Fujimori because of her father, who is serving a 25-year prison sentence for his role in death squad killings in the 1990s. He also has been convicted of corruption. There has been concern that Keiko Fujimori would try to free her father if elected.

Much of the presidential campaign has focused on continuing the rapid economic growth seen in recent years, while ensuring the poor also see some of the increased prosperity.

VOA

The VOA is the Voice of America

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