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| Peru’s Presidential Election Appears Headed to a Runoff | Peru’s Presidential Election Appears Headed to a Runoff |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| LIMA, Peru — The presidential election in Peru on Sunday appeared headed to a second round of voting, with the daughter of a former dictator in the lead, according to initial exit polls. | LIMA, Peru — The presidential election in Peru on Sunday appeared headed to a second round of voting, with the daughter of a former dictator in the lead, according to initial exit polls. |
| Keiko Fujimori, 40, whose father, Alberto, ruled the country with an iron fist in the 1990s, had about 40 percent of the vote and a double-digit lead over her two nearest challengers. | Keiko Fujimori, 40, whose father, Alberto, ruled the country with an iron fist in the 1990s, had about 40 percent of the vote and a double-digit lead over her two nearest challengers. |
| The right-wing candidate pulled ahead on promises of restoring her father’s law-and-order legacy while steering the country further toward a market-oriented economy. | The right-wing candidate pulled ahead on promises of restoring her father’s law-and-order legacy while steering the country further toward a market-oriented economy. |
| But the exit polls indicated that her campaign was unable to clinch the majority needed to avoid a runoff, which would be held June 5. | But the exit polls indicated that her campaign was unable to clinch the majority needed to avoid a runoff, which would be held June 5. |
| Running behind Ms. Fujimori were Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, 77, an economist who served as the country’s prime minister, and Verónika Mendoza, 35, a leftist congresswoman who promised to decrease the country’s inequality. | Running behind Ms. Fujimori were Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, 77, an economist who served as the country’s prime minister, and Verónika Mendoza, 35, a leftist congresswoman who promised to decrease the country’s inequality. |
| In polling before the election and in Sunday’s exit polls, the two appeared to be tied for second place. Official results, expected later on Sunday, will determine which of the two will continue into the runoff. | In polling before the election and in Sunday’s exit polls, the two appeared to be tied for second place. Official results, expected later on Sunday, will determine which of the two will continue into the runoff. |
| Ms. Fujimori has drawn the most attention of all the candidates because of the legacy of her father. | Ms. Fujimori has drawn the most attention of all the candidates because of the legacy of her father. |
| Mr. Fujimori, who ruled between 1990 and 2000, ushered in an era of authoritarianism in Peru by suspending the Constitution and disbanding Congress. In 2009, a court found him guilty of corruption and running death squads that carried out extrajudicial executions. He is now in prison serving a 25-year sentence. | Mr. Fujimori, who ruled between 1990 and 2000, ushered in an era of authoritarianism in Peru by suspending the Constitution and disbanding Congress. In 2009, a court found him guilty of corruption and running death squads that carried out extrajudicial executions. He is now in prison serving a 25-year sentence. |
| Mr. Fujimori is credited, however, with dismantling the Shining Path, Peru’s deadly extremist organization. His economic policies tamed the country’s hyperinflation, eventually setting the country on a path of steady growth, which continues today. | Mr. Fujimori is credited, however, with dismantling the Shining Path, Peru’s deadly extremist organization. His economic policies tamed the country’s hyperinflation, eventually setting the country on a path of steady growth, which continues today. |
| “The father’s legacy is a double-edged sword for Keiko,” said Jo-Marie Burt, a senior fellow at the Washington Office on Latin America, a policy group. “It brings her a steady stream of votes, but it brings her a steady rejection. There are people who will never vote for her.” | “The father’s legacy is a double-edged sword for Keiko,” said Jo-Marie Burt, a senior fellow at the Washington Office on Latin America, a policy group. “It brings her a steady stream of votes, but it brings her a steady rejection. There are people who will never vote for her.” |
| Indeed, it remained unclear whether Ms. Fujimori would be able to win a second round of voting should the votes of her opponents migrate toward a single rival. In 2011, she came in second in the first round of voting and eventually lost to Ollanta Humala, a former army officer who capitalized on sentiment against her. | |
| On Sunday, Peruvians fanned out to voting stations like the one at Sagrado Corazón Chalet School, where soldiers guarded the ballot boxes placed in the classrooms. | On Sunday, Peruvians fanned out to voting stations like the one at Sagrado Corazón Chalet School, where soldiers guarded the ballot boxes placed in the classrooms. |
| Alcela Escajadillo, a 42-year-old teacher, said she had voted for Ms. Mendoza, who speaks Quechua, Peru’s major indigenous language, and is known for her working-class roots. Ms. Escajadillo also said she wanted to vote for a woman. | Alcela Escajadillo, a 42-year-old teacher, said she had voted for Ms. Mendoza, who speaks Quechua, Peru’s major indigenous language, and is known for her working-class roots. Ms. Escajadillo also said she wanted to vote for a woman. |
| “Men are more careless, and they lack that understanding of things,” she said. “You can see this in your own home where the woman manages the money and can make the money go a long way to feed her family.” | “Men are more careless, and they lack that understanding of things,” she said. “You can see this in your own home where the woman manages the money and can make the money go a long way to feed her family.” |
| Damaris Poma Escobedo, a 28-year-old supermarket employee, voted for Ms. Fujimori, also because the candidate was female. “We need a woman to be president. She has good ideas, and I think the past is the past and we can look forward to give her an opportunity.” | Damaris Poma Escobedo, a 28-year-old supermarket employee, voted for Ms. Fujimori, also because the candidate was female. “We need a woman to be president. She has good ideas, and I think the past is the past and we can look forward to give her an opportunity.” |
| Throughout the campaign Ms. Fujimori was repeatedly assailed by her rivals, who said another Fujimori presidency would harm the country’s democracy. On Tuesday, an estimated 30,000 people gathered for a protest march against her candidacy, staged on the 24th anniversary of Alberto Fujimori’s coup. | Throughout the campaign Ms. Fujimori was repeatedly assailed by her rivals, who said another Fujimori presidency would harm the country’s democracy. On Tuesday, an estimated 30,000 people gathered for a protest march against her candidacy, staged on the 24th anniversary of Alberto Fujimori’s coup. |
| Last Sunday, Ms. Fujimori signed a pledge to respect human rights and the freedom of the press, an unusual move meant to signal to voters that she would not repeat her father’s authoritarianism. | Last Sunday, Ms. Fujimori signed a pledge to respect human rights and the freedom of the press, an unusual move meant to signal to voters that she would not repeat her father’s authoritarianism. |