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Peru election: Keiko Fujimori faces run-off despite first round lead Peru election: Keiko Fujimori faces run-off despite first round lead
(5 months later)
Keiko Fujimori, the conservative daughter of jailed former president Alberto Fujimori, led the first round of Peru’s presidential election on Sunday but fell short of outright victory and faces a run-off in June, three exit polls showed.Keiko Fujimori, the conservative daughter of jailed former president Alberto Fujimori, led the first round of Peru’s presidential election on Sunday but fell short of outright victory and faces a run-off in June, three exit polls showed.
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The close race for second place and a spot in the run-off was between Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, a centre-right former World Bank economist, and the left-wing lawmaker, Veronika Mendoza.The close race for second place and a spot in the run-off was between Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, a centre-right former World Bank economist, and the left-wing lawmaker, Veronika Mendoza.
Fujimori, a US-educated former congresswoman, needed 50% to win power in the first round but exit polls showed her with support at below 40%.Fujimori, a US-educated former congresswoman, needed 50% to win power in the first round but exit polls showed her with support at below 40%.
She is vulnerable in the run-off because many voters opposed to her father’s authoritarian rule in the 1990s are likely to rally behind her rival.She is vulnerable in the run-off because many voters opposed to her father’s authoritarian rule in the 1990s are likely to rally behind her rival.
In a bid to project a more moderate image, Fujimori promised during her campaign not to pardon her father if elected. On Sunday night, she told supporters it was time to bury the past.In a bid to project a more moderate image, Fujimori promised during her campaign not to pardon her father if elected. On Sunday night, she told supporters it was time to bury the past.
“The new political map being drawn clearly shows Peruvians want reconciliation and don’t want to fight anymore,” she said.“The new political map being drawn clearly shows Peruvians want reconciliation and don’t want to fight anymore,” she said.
The Ipsos polling firm said on Sunday that an unofficial quick count of ballots showed Fujimori had 39.6% support in the first round of voting with Kuczynski on 21.5% and Mendoza on 18.7%.The Ipsos polling firm said on Sunday that an unofficial quick count of ballots showed Fujimori had 39.6% support in the first round of voting with Kuczynski on 21.5% and Mendoza on 18.7%.
But it had not yet counted 15% of sample ballots, including from rural areas, where Mendoza and Fujimori have stronger support than Kuczynski.But it had not yet counted 15% of sample ballots, including from rural areas, where Mendoza and Fujimori have stronger support than Kuczynski.
Exit polls showed Kuczynski and Mendoza were even closer.Exit polls showed Kuczynski and Mendoza were even closer.
Support for Fujimori, who is 40, slipped after tens of thousands protested against her on 5 April, 24 years after her father shut Congress with the support of the army.Support for Fujimori, who is 40, slipped after tens of thousands protested against her on 5 April, 24 years after her father shut Congress with the support of the army.
A runoff between Fujimori and the 77-year-old Kuczynski would likely ensure Peru’s free-market economic model remains intact. Kuczynski is seen as Wall Street’s preferred candidate.A runoff between Fujimori and the 77-year-old Kuczynski would likely ensure Peru’s free-market economic model remains intact. Kuczynski is seen as Wall Street’s preferred candidate.
Mendoza wants to limit Peru’s crucial mining industry – the country is on track to become the world’s second biggest copper producer – and her late surge in opinion polls has alarmed investors.Mendoza wants to limit Peru’s crucial mining industry – the country is on track to become the world’s second biggest copper producer – and her late surge in opinion polls has alarmed investors.
Rising crime was a central campaign issue and many Peruvians question why poverty persists with such vast mineral wealth.Rising crime was a central campaign issue and many Peruvians question why poverty persists with such vast mineral wealth.
Kuczynski, a former finance minister known in Peru as “PPK”, danced in front of supporters on Sunday night but urged calm until official results came in.Kuczynski, a former finance minister known in Peru as “PPK”, danced in front of supporters on Sunday night but urged calm until official results came in.
“We don’t want a polarised nation,” he said in front of his pink campaign banner.“We don’t want a polarised nation,” he said in front of his pink campaign banner.
Mendoza, 35, thanked her supporters from her home city of Cuzco, once the capital of the Incan empire. “We’ve shown that we can do politics differently,” she said.Mendoza, 35, thanked her supporters from her home city of Cuzco, once the capital of the Incan empire. “We’ve shown that we can do politics differently,” she said.
Partial official results were expected later on Sunday and the country’s electoral body said it would finish counting on Monday.Partial official results were expected later on Sunday and the country’s electoral body said it would finish counting on Monday.
A recent Ipsos poll showed Kuczynski would likely beat Fujimori in a second-round election while Mendoza was seen in a statistical tie with Fujimori.A recent Ipsos poll showed Kuczynski would likely beat Fujimori in a second-round election while Mendoza was seen in a statistical tie with Fujimori.
Alberto Fujimori, a right-wing populist, is serving a 25-year prison term for human rights abuses and corruption during his 1990-2000 rule.Alberto Fujimori, a right-wing populist, is serving a 25-year prison term for human rights abuses and corruption during his 1990-2000 rule.
He is fondly remembered by some for building rural schools and hospitals and implementing neo-liberal reforms that remain in place. Keiko Fujimori famously became Peru’s first lady at 19 when her parents divorced.He is fondly remembered by some for building rural schools and hospitals and implementing neo-liberal reforms that remain in place. Keiko Fujimori famously became Peru’s first lady at 19 when her parents divorced.
She promises to preserve democracy and extend 25 years of free-market policies if she wins power.She promises to preserve democracy and extend 25 years of free-market policies if she wins power.
The elder Fujimori said his hard-line measures were necessary to defeat the Maoist-inspired Shining Path guerrilla group.The elder Fujimori said his hard-line measures were necessary to defeat the Maoist-inspired Shining Path guerrilla group.
In a reminder of that bloody conflict, rebels presumed to be remnants of the Shining Path on Saturday ambushed soldiers sent to safeguard ballots, leaving at least six dead, authorities said.In a reminder of that bloody conflict, rebels presumed to be remnants of the Shining Path on Saturday ambushed soldiers sent to safeguard ballots, leaving at least six dead, authorities said.
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At a news conference, Fujimori criticised outgoing President Ollanta Humala, a former leftist military officer who has governed more moderately than expected.At a news conference, Fujimori criticised outgoing President Ollanta Humala, a former leftist military officer who has governed more moderately than expected.
“I’m sorry this government had allowed not only crime to advance in the streets but has also permitted Shining Path to keep taking lives and shedding blood in our country.”“I’m sorry this government had allowed not only crime to advance in the streets but has also permitted Shining Path to keep taking lives and shedding blood in our country.”
Fujimori has pledged to build high-altitude prisons in the Andes to isolate dangerous criminals, and said she would drive economic growth forward by tapping a rainy day fund accumulated from mineral wealth and issuing new debt to fund badly needed infrastructure.Fujimori has pledged to build high-altitude prisons in the Andes to isolate dangerous criminals, and said she would drive economic growth forward by tapping a rainy day fund accumulated from mineral wealth and issuing new debt to fund badly needed infrastructure.
She says her father is innocent and should be absolved by the courts but has promised not to use her political power to free him from jail or repeat his authoritarian tendencies.She says her father is innocent and should be absolved by the courts but has promised not to use her political power to free him from jail or repeat his authoritarian tendencies.
“I voted for Keiko because she’s not to blame for what her father did,” said 41-year-old Carlos Zevallos. “Crimes aren’t inherited.”“I voted for Keiko because she’s not to blame for what her father did,” said 41-year-old Carlos Zevallos. “Crimes aren’t inherited.”