In a long day of voting this Sunday (6), with offices open for 12 hours and a division of voters into time slots to avoid crowds due to the coronavirus pandemic, the candidates for the second round of the presidency of Peru have lowered the tone of the attacks that were exchanged here.
Leftist Pedro Castillo, 51, who took the lead in the first round, and right-hander Keiko Fujimori, 46, made less than aggressive statements about the vote and its opponents. The measured speech clashed with that seen in the election campaign, in which there were exchanges of beards and mutual threats.
Keiko claimed that Castillo would mean Peru’s way to become Venezuela, and Castillo said the adversary would be the continuation of a management full of human rights violations like that of his father, Alberto Fujimori (1990- 2000).
As is customary in the country, the two candidates hosted election breakfasts, where they met with supporters and family members before election day. Keiko preferred to do it in one of Lima’s poorest neighborhoods, San Juan de Lurigancho, outdoors.
The right has promised to respect the result, unlike in other years, when it has brought charges of fraud. She has already been a candidate in 2011 and 2016, losing twice in the second round. “We don’t know what the result will be, but whatever it is, I ratify our commitment to respect the will of the people, to say that it will be the decision that our country will define whether I should be president of Peru or as a ordinary citizen, ”she said.
Castillo, at an outdoor table outside his home in Cajamarca, also reiterated that he would accept the results. “Let’s respect democracy. We are here to introduce ourselves to try to offer a solution to Peru’s problems. Not only do I want to reaffirm that I will respect the results, but I would also like to ask everyone for reassurance, “he said.
Keiko voted at the end of the day in Surco, while Castillo did so in the morning in Tacabamba.
Still without official voter turnout figures, local television stations claimed many polling stations had limited audiences. The pandemic and the fact that both candidates suffered high rejection could be part of the explanation.
We expect a close tally of the votes – according to the most recent poll, carried out by the Ipsos institute, Castillo totaled 51.1% of intentions, and Keiko, 48.9%, a technical tie, since the margin of The error was 2.5 percentage points.
There were few incidents involving public figures this Sunday. The controversial leader of Peru Libre, Castillo’s party, Vladimir Cerrón, turned up to vote in a legendary T-shirt – white, with a red collar and pockets – covered with a jacket. This violates the electoral law and has been denounced by activists of Fujimorism. Cerrón is under investigation for corruption, as is Keiko herself.
Peruvian President Francisco Sagasti – the fourth to hold the post in the current legislature – voted early, at 8 a.m. in Lima, and called for calm when the results are counted. The president said that until his last day in office he would keep the promise of a peaceful transition. He also called for “respect for the election results” on the part of the two candidates.
The winner of the election takes over on July 28, the country’s bicentenary of independence.