Peru election: supporters of rival candidates throng streets amid dispute over result

[Judi Lynn]

Peruvians backing socialist Pedro Castillo and rightwinger Keiko Fujimori march in Lima as electoral jury prepares to decide poll outcome

Reuters
Sat 26 Jun 2021 22.47 EDT

Supporters of Peru’s rival presidential candidates – socialist Pedro Castillo and rightwinger Keiko Fujimori – have taken to the streets amid uncertainty over a legal challenge to the outcome of the closely contested 6 June election.

Thousands of Castillo supporters marched on Saturday toward Plaza San Martín in the capital Lima, a block from the headquarters of the electoral jury that will decide the outcome. They carried giant banners and photos of the socialist candidate, calling for his apparent election win to be confirmed.

A few blocks away, thousands of others supporting Fujimori paraded with Peruvian flags and banners that read “no to fraud”, arriving at the Plaza Bolognesi, where a stage had been erected ahead of the expected arrival of the conservative.

Castillo holds a slender 44,000-vote lead over Fujimori with all ballots counted. But his rightwing rival has sought to disqualify votes, largely in rural areas

More:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/27/peru-election-supporters-of-rival-candidates-throng-streets-amid-dispute-over-result

[Judi Lynn]

1. This accusation gets so old, wherever it happens. From the article: Response to: Judi Lynn (Original

Fujimori’s supporters included members of various right and centre-right parties, as well as retired military personnel who have backed her claims. Many had banners saying “no to communism”, a criticism they often aim at Castillo.

“We are not Chavistas, we are not communists, we are not going to take away property from anyone, that is false ... we are democratic,” Castillo told supporters on Saturday night. “The differences, the inefraudqualities, are over.”