Keiko Fujimori headed for runoff in Peru vote

LIMA, Peru (UPDATED) – Keiko Fujimori, daughter of an ex-president jailed for massacres, headed Monday, April 11, for a runoff that could make her Peru’s first female leader.

In an election marred by allegations of vote-buying and a day after a guerrilla attack left 7 people dead, Fujimori, 40, had a two-digit lead over the second-place contender, centrist rival Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, 77.

But since Fujimori fell short of 50%, she must now face Kuczynski in a runoff on June 5.

Both have promised to boost the economy and fight crime in this South American mineral-exporting country of 30 million people.

Fujimori earlier celebrated victory as unofficial surveys showed her far in the lead.

Voters “are demanding change. This is a great responsibility, which we are going to honor,” she told cheering supporters.

“Peru wants reconciliation and no more conflict,” she said.

“We invite all Peruvians on June 5 to opt for change and for the future, because the future of Peru is on the way.”

Fujimori was on top with 39.18% of votes in line with exit polls, with nearly half of the ballots counted. Kuczynski had 24.25%, according to state electoral body ONPE.

Electoral irregularities

Observers complained that the electoral process was undermined when half the candidates dropped out or were excluded from the running under a tough new electoral law.

Keiko, daughter of former leader Alberto Fujimori, survived attempts to ban her from the race and mistrust over her father’s legacy.

She and other leading candidates were accused of wooing voters with gifts. Fujimori and Kuczynski were cleared of the charges.

But centrist candidate Julio Guzman, previously second in the polls, was banned from running for irregularities in the candidate-selection process.

Eight other candidates were similarly excluded or dropped out for lack of support.

One, Gregorio Santos, was running for office from a jail cell where he is detained on corruption charges.

Breakfast of champions

Alberto Fujimori’s dark decade in power from 1990-2000 lives in the memory of many Peruvians.

Now 77, he is serving a 25-year jail sentence for crimes against humanity. The courts held him responsible for the massacre of 25 people he said were terrorists in 1991 and 1992.

But many voters love him for crushing the Shining Path communist guerrilla group that carried out attacks and kidnappings.

The conflict reared its head on Saturday, when seven people were killed in an attack on a military convoy by remnants of Shining Path still hiding in the jungle. A separate attack injured two more soldiers.

“That is why we want more security,” said Wilfredo Pena, a 55-year-old maintenance worker who voted for Kuczynski at a school in Lima.

“We want a change – safety for citizens and job security.”

He rejected Keiko Fujimori “because of the bad experience of the first (Fujimori) government. We do not want more of the same.”

Sins of the fathers

Student Angela Rios, 18, voting for the first time, backed Fujimori.

“Hers is the best-organized party. She will strengthen the economy and improve education,” Rios said.

“You cannot judge a person on what their father did.”

Despite his authoritarian rule, Alberto Fujimori liberalized the economy and oversaw an economic boom. Growth has slowed in recent years under outgoing President Ollanta Humala.

Former prime minister and banker Kuczynski has vowed to create jobs by boosting business and growth.

Fujimori has promised to build more prisons and other public infrastructure. 

European Union observers said they saw no serious incidents during voting, though some polling stations were late in opening. – Roland Lloyd Parry, AFP / Rappler.com