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Ex-President’s Daughter Appears Headed to Runoff in Peru Election Ex-President’s Daughter Is Headed to Runoff in Peru Election
(35 minutes later)
LIMA, Peru — The presidential election in Peru on Sunday appeared headed to a second round of voting, with the daughter of an imprisoned former president in the lead, according to initial exit polls. LIMA, Peru — Presidential elections in Peru were headed to a second round of voting on Sunday with the daughter of an imprisoned former president in the lead over a centrist former prime minister, Peruvian officials said.
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 38 percent of the vote, according to an official count of about one-fifth of the ballots.
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. Trailing her by double digits was Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, 77, a centrist economist who served as the country’s prime minister in the mid-2000s.
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. Ms. Fujimori, a right-wing candidate, campaigned on promises to promote foreign investment while restoring her father’s law-and-order legacy of combating extremist groups.
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. But her campaign was unable to clinch the majority needed to avoid a runoff, scheduled for June 5.
Ms. Fujimori has drawn the most attention of all the candidates because of the legacy of her father. Speaking to supporters Sunday, Ms. Fujimori said that the results reflected a “new political map” in the country and that voters wanted to “reclaim the state’s presence.”
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. But critics fear that her candidacy risks a return to the authoritarianism of her father, whose legacy has become a central issue of the campaign.
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. Mr. Fujimori, who ruled from 1990 to 2000, suspended the Constitution and disbanded Congress. In 2009, a court found him guilty of corruption and human rights abuses, including 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 Peru on a path of steady growth, which continues.
“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 voters supporting 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. It remained unclear whether Ms. Fujimori would be able to win a second round of voting if the voters supporting her opponents migrated toward a single rival. In 2011, she advanced to the second round but lost to Ollanta Humala, a former army officer who capitalized on sentiment against her. Polls indicate she will face a tough race against Mr. Kuczynski.
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 ballot boxes placed in classrooms.
Alcela Escajadillo, 42, a 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. Damaris Poma Escobedo, 28, a supermarket employee, voted for Ms. Fujimori because she identified with a female candidate.
“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.” “We need a woman to be president,” she said. “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, 28, a supermarket employee, said she had voted for Ms. Fujimori, also because the candidate is 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.” Guillermo Fernandin Bohl, 34, a caterer, said he had voted for Mr. Kuczynski.
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. “He can bring foreign investors and modernize the country,” he said. “When you are smart, you vote for the right one, not for someone’s race or looks.”
Two days earlier, 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. 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.
Ms. Fujimori recently signed a pledge to respect human rights and freedom of the press, an unusual move meant to signal to voters that she would not repeat her father’s authoritarianism.
“If anything, the election is more polarized this year,” said Cynthia McClintock, a political scientist specializing in Peru at George Washington University. “Keiko Fujimori has a long way to go.”