Killings blight Peru election as jailed strongman’s daughter scents victory

The daughter of jailed Peruvian autocrat Alberto Fujimori was looking odds on for a presidential election victory on Sunday. Keiko Fujimori, whose father ruled Peru for ten years until 2000, has a double-digit lead in the polls ahead of the ballot. She may not get the 50% share of the vote she requires to take office and will need a run-off against the second-placed of her ten rivals for the presidency. It was looking too close to call between former Wall Street investor Pedro Kuczynski and leftist congresswoman Veronika Mendoza for the runners-up spot.

I have a firm conviction that with God’s help I will become the first woman president of Peru

Keiko Fujimori

Ms Fujimori has struggled to shake-off the legacy of her father, a divisive figure loathed for human rights abuses but loved by some for shutting down a left-wing rebellion. She has promised not to pardon him as he serves 25 years in jail but opponents have taken to the streets by the thousands to denounce what they said would be a return of authoritarian rule if she was elected. The run-up to the election was marred by violence on Saturday as three soldiers and a civilian were killed and seven others injured in attacks blamed on remnants of the Shining Path guerrilla movement.

Terrorism and those who collude with it have no place in our society or in our family

Outgoing president Ollanta Humala condemns the attacks

fujimori