Socialist Castillo clings on to tight lead in Peru election as count nears end reuters.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from reuters.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Peruvian socialist candidate Pedro Castillo held on to a narrow lead late on Tuesday in the country's runoff presidential election, as tensions rose over contested ballots and accusations of fraud, which sparked protests outside the elections office.
Wednesday, 09 Jun 2021 12:27 PM MYT
Peru s presidential candidate Pedro Castillo gestures to supporters the day after a run-off election, in Lima June 7, 2021. Reuters pic
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LIMA, June 9 Peruvian socialist candidate Pedro Castillo held on to a narrow lead late on Tuesday in the country’s runoff presidential election, as tensions rose over contested ballots and accusations of fraud, which sparked protests outside the elections office.
Castillo, who has worried markets and mining firms with his plans to shake up the copper-rich country’s politics, held a slim lead of some 50.3 per cent, ahead of right-wing rival Keiko Fujimori on 49.7 per cent, with almost 98 per cent of the votes tallied.
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Lima: He was an unlikely presidential candidate, a rural teacher who for the past 25 years has seen his students struggle in crumbling schools where teachers also cook and sweep floors.
But socialist Pedro Castillo is holding on to a narrow lead in Peru’s run-off presidential election, and worrying markets and mining firms with his plans to shake up the copper-rich country’s politics. He has promised a tax overhaul to address inequalities.
His slim lead of 50.3 per cent, ahead of right-wing rival Keiko Fujimori on 49.7 per cent, with almost 98 per cent of the votes tallied, sparked tensions over contested ballots and accusations of fraud, which in turn sparked protests outside the elections office.