- Title: PERU: Peruvian presidental candidates close campaigns ahead of polarized election
- Date: 4th June 2011
- Summary: LIMA, PERU (JUNE 2, 2011) (REUTERS) RALLY BEGINNING FOR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE OLLANTA HUMALA CLOSING CAMPAIGN VARIOUS OF SUPPORTERS YELLING IN FAVOUR OF HUMALA HUMALA WALKING ON STAGE WITH WIFE NADINE HEREDIA AND TWO OLDEST DAUGHTERS THOUSANDS OF SUPPORTERS CHEERING HUMALA HUMALA STANDING ON STAGE WITH FORMER PRESIDENT ALEJANDRO TOLEDO AND WRITER ALVARO VARGAS LLOSA AUDIENCE CHEERING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) OLLANTA HUMALA, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, SAYING: "We can't continue saying that Peru is moving forward when there is greater inequality. The government says that Peru is moving forward and I ask the people, 'Is Peru advancing?" SUPPORTERS YELLING 'NO' (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) OLLANTA HUMALA, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, SAYING: "While there are families who live in sand pits with cylinders of water and with low-quality education, without healthcare, without security and with violence and gangs, we can't be proud that Peru is advancing. That's why the Gana Peru's (political party) national goal of great transformation and that of all the political and social forces that today converge with us and the women's groups, is to narrow the breach of inequality." THOUSANDS OF SUPPORTERS CHANTING HUMALA LIFTING ARMS AND MAKING SIGN OF VICTORY WITH HANDS AS RALLY HUMALA HUGGING SUPPORTERS SUPPORTERS PASSING HUMALA ON THEIR SHOULDERS THOUSANDS OF SUPPORTERS CHEERING PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE KEIKO FUJIMORI IN HER CLOSING CAMPAIGN RALLY FUJIMORI WALKING ON STAGE AND GREETING SUPPORTERS FUJIMORI STANDING ONSTAGE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) KEIKO FUJIMORI, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, SAYING: "I want to tell you that these are difficult moments. The only thing that it did was strengthen my character to prepare me to face this moment." SUPPORTERS CHEERING FUJIMORI WAVING TO SUPPORTERS AT END OF MEETING FUJIMORI WAVING AS CONFETTI FALLS FIREWORKS AT END OF RALLY
- Embargoed: 19th June 2011 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Peru, Peru
- Country: Peru
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA400REYUAP2QLT1HAW6U4E27PD
- Story Text: Peru's presidential candidates Ollanta Humala and Keiko Fujimori wrapped up their campaigns on Thursday (June 2), two days before voters in the Andean nation decide between the two archrivals in the second round.
As thousands of supporters cheered him, leftist candidate Ollanta Humala appealed to his populist roots.
Peru is one of the world's fastest growing economies but a third of Peruvians still live in poverty and Humala said he can close the country's gaping social inequalities.
"While there are families who live in sand pits with cylinders of water and with low-quality education, without healthcare, without security and with violence and gangs, we can't be proud that Peru is advancing. That's why the Gana Peru's (political party) national goal of great transformation and that of all the political and social forces that today converge with us and the women's groups, is to narrow the breach of inequality," he said.
While most voters in the first-round election chose one of several moderate candidates, the split in the moderate vote propelled the ideological foes-- left-wing Humala and right-wing Fujimori-- into the run-off.
Humala had the most votes of any candidate during the first round, but polls since then had given Fujimori the lead-- until late this week when the candidates both polled within the margin of error.
Humala's numbers have steadily improved as he has worked to play down his reputation as a hard-liner with an authoritarian streak. He has also sought to distance himself from his controversial mentor, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, and his brother who is serving 25 years in prison for leading an uprising against the government in which four policemen and one gunman were killed.
On Thursday (June 2), one poll showed Humala moving into first place while another said Fujimori was widening her lead.
Fujimori told her supporters that the tumultuous campaign trail had served her well.
"I want to tell you that these are difficult moments. The only thing that it did was strengthen my character to prepare me to face this moment," she said.
The nationalist Humala sprang to national headlines in 2000 when he led a bloodless yet unsuccessful revolt against his current opponent's father, then-President Alberto Fujimori, as a protest against various corruption scandals.
Humala's revolt was unsuccessful, but Fujimori was ultimately forced out of office in a cloud of accusations of corruption and abuses.
Keiko Fujimori, who served as her father's de facto First Lady after her parents divorced, has carefully tried to cultivate an image that distances herself from the human rights abuses while echoing her father's approaches including market-friendly policies and law-and-order.
While investors support Fujimori, critics say if she wins, it would establish a political dynasty that trampled on human rights.
The polarized political landscape means that, just days before the final vote, the candidates are battling for a small sliver of undecided voters to swing the outcome.
Almost 30 million people live in Peru and pollsters say about 10 percent of voters will abstain or spoil their ballots. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
