Peru is on the border counting votes in a close presidential race Election news

The counting of votes has begun in the second presidential election in Peru, with Conservative candidate Keiko Fujimori polling out left-wing opponent Pedro Castillo with an exit poll that appears to be blocked in a “statistical draw”.

Fujimori, the daughter of a shameless former president, received 50.3% of the vote on Sunday according to the Ipsos exit poll, while union leader and teacher Castillo accounted for 49.7 percent.

That’s within a 3 percentage point plus or minus error according to the Ipsos survey.

The results do not include foreign voters, election officials said could be key to spreading the results.

Peruvian director Alfredo Torres Ipsos told America Television that the results have been so close, “you can’t be named the winner at this time.”

The polls closed at 19:00 (00:00 GMT) and the first official results are expected to start at 23:30 (04:30 GMT).

Presidential candidate Pedro Castillo uses his horn to speak to his party from the balcony of his party’s headquarters in the second election in Tacabamba, Peru, on Sunday, June 6, 2021 [Martin Mejia/ AP]

Millions of people voted on Sunday to clash ideologies between the two candidates in the second close election, which divided voters by class and geography.

Polls leading up to election day showed a deadly statistic that Fujimori had previously followed Castillo and was slightly ahead at the end of the campaign.

Signs of electoral challenges

Both have promised different remedies to rescue Peru from the economic difficulties caused by the COVID-19 crisis. The Andean country has the worst death rate in the world, with more than 184,000 deaths among its 33 million inhabitants. Two million Peruvians have also lost their jobs in the pandemic and almost a third of the country is living in poverty, according to official data

Fujimori, 46, the daughter of imprisoned former President Alberto Fujimori, has pledged to follow the free market model and maintain economic stability. Castillo, 51, the son of a peasant farmer, has promised to redesign the country’s constitution to strengthen the role of the state, take a larger share of the profits of mining companies and nationalize major industries. – Peru is the second largest producer of copper in the world.

With candidates lacking clear leadership in both polling stations, traces of the challenges both camps may face in the election and deep mistrust of the political class caused by decades of corruption and instability could cause problems after the election.

Shortly after announcing the outcome of the exit poll, Castillo wrote on Twitter: “I urge our people to defend all their votes. I call on Peruvians from all corners of the country to take to the streets in peace to be vigilant in defense of democracy.”

Later through a megaphone to the crowd from a balcony in Tacabamba, a village in his rural heart north of the Peruvian Andes, Castillo called for calm.

“We have to be cautious, people are wise,” he said. “What we’ve heard is not official.”

In a brief statement, Fujimori said he is keeping the verdict until the official results are obtained, and called for “prudence, calm and peace between both groups, those who voted for us and those who did not vote.”

In Lima, Al Jazeera’s Mariana Sanchez said the exit poll had sparked protests by Castillo’s supporters, who had gathered near the National Office of the Electoral Process.

A local TV journalist was beaten at the site, he said.

“Everyone is alert. The difference between Catsillo and Fujimori is noticeable with what is counting the votes. It’s a very tight race and people are very concerned about it here. ”

On Sunday, voting in the Lima district, Fujimori noted some allegations of doctoral ballot papers found in the capital and inland.

“We know there have been incidents today. We expect the election bodies to take action on the matter and sanctions will be imposed accordingly, “he said.” I also hope that our party officials will be on guard. “

He praised “grandmothers and grandfathers” for voting against the back of the second wave of COVID-19 that went to the country and started the slow vaccination campaign.

Castillo voted the same day in the rural heart of the northern Andes of Peru, accompanied by a crowd of supporters: “Yes we can!”

He had previously warned against fraud in the election and said he would be “the first to call people” if he saw evidence of bad play. But on Sunday he told people he would respect the result, and hoped the Peruvians would unite behind the successful candidate.

“If we don’t unite, we can’t move the country forward,” Castillo said.

‘Atmosphere of social conflicts’

In Lima, voters would go to the polls by bike, skate and walk to avoid traffic jams as the day progressed.

Among those who voted for Lima was Luis Pizango, who said “transparency” was key to successful elections.

“May Peru win for the good of all Peruvians,” he said.

In surveys, urban and higher-income citizens have indicated that they prefer Fujimori, while the rural poor support Castillo.

The winner will find it difficult to govern, however, because the Peruvian Congress is divided.

Castillo’s Free Peru is the largest party, ahead of Fujimori’s Popular Force, but without a majority.

“It will not be easy (for Fujimori) to create mistrust in his name and in many sectors of his family. About a 25-year sentence.

If Castillo wins, he will have to strengthen the parliamentary majority that will allow him to deliver his ambitious program, ”Smith said.

In both cases, analyst Luis Pasarindico said that “it would take time to calm the waters, because there is a strong polarization and an atmosphere of social conflict.”