Right-wing populist Fujimori in Peru’s presidential election

In the presidential runoff in Peru, right-wing populist candidate Keiko Fujimori leads, according to first results. You get 52.9 percent of the vote, the Election Commission said Sunday evening (local time), referring to partial results. Left-wing candidate Pedro Castillo, who came out in the first round of the election in April as the surprise winner, received 47.09 percent of the vote.

The 46-year-old Fujimori, daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori, has applied for the state’s highest office for the third time. In 2011 and 2016, she ended up behind her competitors in the run-off. Fujimori is suspected of corruption in the widespread case surrounding Brazilian construction company Odebrecht and has spent a total of 16 months in custody.

In recent polls, both candidates were close to each other. This is the third time Fujimori has run for the highest office in the state. In 2011 and 2016, she ended up behind her competitors in the run-off.

Father spends 25 years in prison

Her father is serving a 25-year prison sentence for serious human rights violations. During his tenure (1990-2000), the security forces were allowed to crack down on leftist forces and alleged subversive forces, and Parliament was overthrown. In addition, tens of thousands of Aboriginal women were forcibly sterilized. Should she win the election, Fujimori wants to pardon her father.

Unionist and teacher Castillo, 51, gained national prominence in 2017 when he led a teachers’ strike. Castillo has strong support, especially in rural areas. In the event of an election victory, Castillo wanted to build a socialist state, closely controlling the media and abolishing the Constitutional Court. Fujimori advocates a neo-liberal economic policy and a strict security strategy.