Peru goes to the polls to elect a president in a polarized race | Election news

Peruvians will make the choice between right-wing populist Keiko Fujimori and left-wing Pedro Castillo.

Voting has begun in the Peruvian presidential election as the country has a polarizing choice between popular right-wing populist Keiko Fujimori and rural leftist Pedro Castillo.

Polls in the second round of elections opened at 7am (12:00 GMT) at most of the country’s 11,700 polling stations, and official results began at 11:30 pm (04:30 GMT Monday).

After the government’s review of the vote, the number of coronavirus deaths in Peru has nearly tripled and is occurring in a few days, currently the world’s worst coronavirus death rate per capita.

Polls show a formidable race, but Fujimori, who was previously behind Castillo, was slightly ahead.

Fujimori, 46, the daughter of former imprisoned President Alberto Fujimori, has promised to maintain economic stability and market policies in the world’s largest copper producer, as well as forgive her father who was punished for human rights violations. .

Fujimori himself spent several months on corruption charges denying arrest. If he wins, the criminal case against him will be suspended while he runs the country.

Today, as we have come here with great effort, I must pass on the post to you. I can’t achieve the goal alone. I have to do it for you. I just ask you to give me a chance. With your help, we will turn this game around. #AhoraTeTocaATi pic.twitter.com/SHyEMJ0eA0

– Keiko Fujimori (@KeikoFujimori) June 5, 2021

Translation: “Today, we have come here with great effort, I must pass on the message to you. I can’t achieve the goal alone. I have to do it for you. I just ask you to give me a chance. With your help, we will turn this game around. #Now it’s your turn “.

Castillo, 51, a primary school teacher and union leader, has encouraged the support of Peru’s poor rural and fearful investors with commitments to nationalize the mining sector, an attitude he later sought to take back.

He has vowed to change the tax regimes of multinational corporations and wants to rewrite the country’s constitution.

He is from a remote town near the northern Andean town of Tacabamba, and was delighted Saturday night to vote to return home.

Castellón made brief remarks, even though the political campaign in Peru in the last days before the elections is banned.

Polls show that undecided voters and Peruvians living abroad may have a balance sheet in the poll.

Approximately one million Peruvians abroad are part of the 25 million electoral list.

Only 0.8 percent voted in the first round of elections in April when COVID-19 blockades were common.

Piero Corvetto, head of Peru’s National Office of Electoral Processes, said that with vaccination programs, more people are now advanced in places dominated by Peruvian expatriates, such as the United States, Spain, Argentina and Chile.

He said he expects Peruvian foreigners to get 1.5% of the vote.

The neck-to-neck results can lead to days of uncertainty and tension if time is needed to settle for the winner.

The new president will take office on July 28, replacing interim centrist leader Francisco Sagasti.