Uncertainty in Peru's election results. Peruvian socialist Pedro Castillo overtook right-wing rival Keiko Fujimori in the country's presidential election vote count on Monday, taking the lead in the official tally on the back of a late surge of rural votes.
The official count from Sunday's election showed outsider candidate Castillo with 50.1% and Fujimori on 49.9%, with over 94% of the vote counted. The leftist candidate had trailed in early counting, but taken as much as 75% of some newly counted vote updates to steadily haul himself clear.
Castillo, the son of peasant farmers, has pledged to shake up the Andean nation's constitution and mining laws, spooking copper producers and local markets, which fell sharply in trading on Monday as he gained in the race.
The tightness of the result could also lead to days of uncertainty and tension. The vote underscored a sharp divide between the capital city Lima and the nation's rural hinterland that has propelled Castillo's unexpected rise.
Lucia Dammert, a Peruvian academic based in Chile, predicted that the coming days would be volatile, with potential challenges to the votes, requests for recounts and street protests by supporters of the losing side.
"All we want right now is democracy, that everything be democratic. That whoever wins, the other accepts it and doesn't start any trouble," said Lili Rocha, a voter in Lima after some scuffles had broken out overnight.
As results trickled in on Sunday evening, 51-year-old Castillo had rallied supporters to "defend the vote" when an exit poll had shown him behind, though he later called for calm.
Fujimori, 46, the daughter of ex-president Alberto Fujimori, who is in prison for human rights abuses and corruption, also appealed for "prudence, calm and peace from both groups."
Lucia Dammert, a Peruvian academic based in Chile, predicted that the coming days would be volatile, with potential challenges to the votes, requests for recounts and street protests by supporters of the losing side.
"All we want right now is democracy, that everything be democratic. That whoever wins, the other accepts it and doesn't start any trouble," said Lili Rocha, a voter in Lima after some scuffles had broken out overnight.
As results trickled in on Sunday evening, 51-year-old Castillo had rallied supporters to "defend the vote" when an exit poll had shown him behind, though he later called for calm.
Fujimori, 46, the daughter of ex-president Alberto Fujimori, who is in prison for human rights abuses and corruption, also appealed for "prudence, calm and peace from both groups."
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Supporters of Peru's presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori react in Lima, Peru June 6, 2021. REUTERS/Gerardo Marin
The latest data showed Fujimori with 8.38 million votes to Castillo's 8.42 million. The slower-to-count rural vote has helped Castillo's late charge, though uncounted overseas ballots could still boost Fujimori.
"Unless the too-close-to-call scenario depicted by the quick count proves wrong, we seem poised for a number of days of heightened uncertainty ahead," J.P. Morgan said.
Castillo's sudden rise to prominence since winning the first-round vote in April has unnerved markets and spooked mining firms concerned over plans to sharply hike taxes on mineral profits and threats of nationalizations.
Analysts say, however, that whoever wins will have a weakened mandate given the sharp divisions in Peru, and will face a fragmented Congress with no one party holding a majority, potentially stalling any major reforms.
"Whether it's Mr. Castillo, or Ms. Keiko (Fujimori), I hope they do a good job over the next five years."
Authors: Authors: Marco Aquino and Marcelo Rochabrun. Reuters journalists
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