Leftist Humala leads Peru run-off, followed by Fujimori’s daughter

Peru yesterday braced for the prospect of a polarising Presidential run-off between leftist ex-army officer Ollanta Humala and right-wing lawmaker Keiko Fujimori, daughter of the jailed ex-President.

Mr Humala, 48, who just missed out on the 2006 Presidency, led with 30.5 per cent, according to the electoral authority’s count of more than 80 per cent of ballots cast in Sunday’s general elections.

Mr Humala late on Sunday was already anticipating victory in the June 5 run-off, telling his supporters that the inauguration the following month would mark “a big change, a big redistribution of riches” in the fast-growing economy where over a third of the population lives in poverty.

On the opposite side of the political spectrum, Ms Fujimori held onto second place as official results trickled in, tallying 23 per cent of the vote in the latest count, while Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, a 72-year-old former liberal Prime Minister, dropped to 20 per cent.

Mr Kuczynski congratulated his opponents at around midday but said “we have to wait a little more,” in comments to local journalists.

Exit polls and first estimates placed 35-year-old Ms Fujimori second and she already announced to a crowd of orange-clad supporters late on Sunday: “We’re in the second round!”

A clear picture with votes from across the nation stretching across the Amazon and the Andes could take up to a week to emerge, officials said.

Almost 20 million people were obliged to vote to replace President Alan Garcia, with a fairer division of Peru’s booming economy – backed by rich mineral resources – a top concern in a volatile campaign.

Peru now faces a battle between the election’s two most polarising candidates – a left-wing nationalist who rivals liken to Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez, and the daughter of a former strongman who many fear would influence her rule from behind bars.

“They both represent authoritarian models,” said Luis Benavente, from a polling group at Lima’s Catholic University.

Mr Humala has brushed up his image in his second bid to take power and sought to reassure nervous investors with promises of careful fiscal policy, respect for free trade deals and no plans to seek re-election, turning away from the influence of Chavez toward the more moderate model of Brazil.

Ms Fujimori benefits from die-hard supporters of her father Alberto Fujimori, the iron-fisted President of the 1990s.

Her father is jailed for human rights abuses committed during a clampdown on leftist guerrillas, but also is remembered for reining in hyperinflation.

Her experience includes her public role as Peru’s “First Lady” at the age of 19 following her parents’ divorce, and many fear she will try to free her father if elected.

The two favourites made similar promises during the campaign, including for state-funded food in schools, increasing the minimum wage and pensions for all.