Presidential in Peru: citizen vigils to "defend democracy"
Audio 01:27
Demonstration of supporters of the Peruvian presidential candidate Pedro Castillo, in Lima on June 9, 2021. AP - Martin Mejia
Text by: RFI Follow
4 min
Uncertainty continues in Peru.
Four days after the second round of the presidential election, the country still does not have a new elected president.
The gap between the two candidates has so far been too tight to declare a winner.
At 99% of the ballots counted, Pedro Castillo (50.2%) is in the lead with 70,000 votes ahead of his opponent Keiko Fujimori (49.7%).
But the latter disputes this advance and demanded Wednesday, June 9 the invalidation of 200,000 ballots before the Peruvian electoral tribunal.
In this tense context, the supporters of the two candidates are more mobilized than ever.
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With our correspondent in Lima,
Wyloën Munhoz-Boillot
Hundreds of Pedro Castillo's supporters gathered outside his headquarters in Lima on Wednesday evening, as Keiko Fujimori announced that she was contesting some ballots.
A statement immediately condemned by the supporters of the candidate.
“
The candidate of the organized mafia and corruption wants to annul thousands of votes that Pedro Castillo has legitimately acquired.
But we are here today to remind electoral bodies that they must uphold the will of the people.
"
As early as Monday, anticipating his probable defeat, Keiko Fujimori had already denounced alleged fraud without providing proof.
Since then, supporters of Pedro Castillo, from the four corners of the country, have organized “
citizens
'
vigils
” and camped in front of the electoral bodies in the center of Lima to defend their vote and their candidate.
"
We have been watching here for days without eating or drinking to make the voice of the people heard who elected Pedro Castillo as president,
" says Flor.
"
Madame Fujimori does not want to accept her defeat, but the people voted for Pedro Castillo and we are going to stay here to defend democracy,
" says Luis.
►
To listen: Peru: Pedro Castillo, from the Andean countryside to the second round of the presidential election
"
No to fraud
"
A few meters away, hundreds of supporters of Keiko Fujimori also gathered on Wednesday evening with a "
No to fraud
"
sign
to support their candidate and her accusations of alleged manipulation of the ballot box.
Charges denied by electoral bodies and international observers.
Sign of the tensions that reign in the country in recent days, in the evening, clashes broke out between the two camps.
Despite the strong police presence, a group of Fujimorists attacked supporters of Pedro Castillo.
►
To listen: Peru: "the end of the political crisis is not possible in the short term"
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