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| Keiko Fujimori, Ex-President’s Daughter, Heads to Runoff in Peru | |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| 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. | 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 38 percent of the vote, according to an official count of about one-fifth of the ballots. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| But her campaign was unable to clinch the majority needed to avoid a runoff, scheduled for June 5. | But her campaign was unable to clinch the majority needed to avoid a runoff, scheduled for June 5. |
| 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.” | 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.” |
| 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. | 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, 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, 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. | 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.” |
| 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. | 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 ballot boxes placed in 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. |
| Damaris Poma Escobedo, 28, a supermarket employee, voted for Ms. Fujimori because she identified with a female candidate. | Damaris Poma Escobedo, 28, a supermarket employee, voted for Ms. Fujimori because she identified with a female candidate. |
| “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.” | “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.” |
| Guillermo Fernandin Bohl, 34, a caterer, said he had voted for Mr. Kuczynski. | Guillermo Fernandin Bohl, 34, a caterer, said he had voted for Mr. Kuczynski. |
| “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.” | “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.” |
| Throughout the campaign, Ms. Fujimori was repeatedly assailed by her rivals, who said another Fujimori presidency would harm the country’s democracy. | 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. | 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. | 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.” | “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.” |