Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Elections 2006 | 5 June, 2006 [ 14:11 ]

Official results after 91% of processed votes

The latest update of the official results provided by ONPE:

Alan Garcia: 53.529 %
Ollanta Humala: 46.471 %

(after 91% of votes processed)

Alan Garcia maintains a 7.058% advantage over Ollanta Humala.


see also 'El Comercio's' infographic chart of regional results here


tags : Peru election2006 Humala Garcia results politics

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Elections 2006 | 5 June, 2006 [ 10:59 ]

Opinions of the foreign press

Here are a few international articles related to yesterday’s Peruvian election:

Peruvians elect Garcia president (BBC News)

With most of the votes counted in the second round of Peru’s election, it has become clear that ex-president Alan Garcia has won a convincing victory.
Mr Garcia polled 54.69% of ballots to 45.30% for nationalist rival Ollanta Humala, with 83.9% of votes counted.
The two men had fought a fierce and aggressive campaign.

Second-chance president for Peru (Daniel Schweimler commentary, BBC News)

Alan Garcia will be the next president of Peru. That much is clear.
But quite how the man who had a disastrous term as president between 1985 and 1990 has managed to work his way back into office, has left many Peruvians scratching their heads in bewilderment.
He left the post with inflation at 7,000%, the country involved in a bloody conflict with Maoist rebels and accusations of corruption levelled at his administration.

Peruvian Election Q & A (BBC News)

Peruvians headed back to the polls on 4 June for a second round of voting to elect a new president.
In the running were a former president whose time in office left the economy in tatters and a nationalist former army officer who was pledging a revolution for the poor.
Exit polls suggested that the ex-President, Alan Garcia, won narrowly against Ollanta Humala.
But for many the choice had been an unappealing one and it was predicted that undecided voters would sway the balance.

Who is Alan Garcia?

Garcia leads Peru’s presidential runoff: partial results (People’s Daily Online, China)

Peru’s ex-president Alan Garcia had a convincing lead of over 10 percent in the presidential runoff on Sunday over Nationalist ex-army commander Ollanta Humala, according to an official count of the ballots.
With 77.3 percent of the vote counted, Garcia won 55.46 percent of the vote while his rival Humala got 44.54, said Magdalena Chu, the electoral agency chief, who described Garcia’s lead as almost “insurmountable.”
“The people have voted for us,” said Garcia, expressing his gratitude to the Peruvians “who have given a majority of the vote” to him.

Remarkable political comeback for Alan Garcia (eitb 24, Basque News, Spain)

It was a remarkable political comeback, Alan Garcia’s presidential runoff victory over Ollanta Humala, a populist former army lieutenant colonel endorsed by Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez.
All the more so as Garcia’s legacy is a 1985-90 presidency that left Peru nearly bankrupt and battered by the devastating Shining Path insurgency. Still, his victory Sunday was hardly resounding.

Garcia hopefully wiser 21 years after first term (Mail & Guardian, South Africa)

Alan Garcia first became president of Peru in 1985. Within five years he had steered the South American country in the worst crisis in its history.
Then the man known as the “Kennedy of South America” disappeared into the political sunset, never to return — or so it seemed.

Garcia wins another term in Peru, says voters defeated Chavez designs (New Straits Times, Malaysia)

Alan Garcia, whose 1985-1990 administration plunged Peru into economic shambles, celebrated victory after securing another term in an election he said defeated the “expansion” designs of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
Alan Garcia, whose 1985-1990 administration plunged Peru into economic shambles, celebrated victory after securing another term in an election he said defeated the “expansion” designs of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

Ex-President Wins in Peru in Stunning Comeback (New York Times, USA)

Sixteen years after his presidency ended in economic collapse and heightened guerrilla violence, Alan García was elected president again on Sunday, completing one of Latin America’s most astonishing political resurrections.
With 77 percent of the vote tabulated, electoral authorities said Mr. García had captured more than 55 percent of the vote versus 44 percent for his opponent, Ollanta Humala, an upstart nationalist who promised to redistribute the country’s wealth.

Ex-President Wins in Peru in Stunning Comeback (New York Times, USA)

Sixteen years after his presidency ended in economic collapse and heightened guerrilla violence, Alan García was elected president again on Sunday, completing one of Latin America’s most astonishing political resurrections.
With 77 percent of the vote tabulated, electoral authorities said Mr. García had captured more than 55 percent of the vote versus 44 percent for his opponent, Ollanta Humala, an upstart nationalist who promised to redistribute the country’s wealth.

tags : Peru election2006 election Humala Garcia foreignpress politics

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Elections 2006 | 4 June, 2006 [ 13:15 ]

Peruvians choose their new president today - 11:30 p.m. update

11:30 p.m.

I will conclude my coverage on today’s election with a remark made by Peru’s former and new president Alan Garcia Perez:

“The only one who was defeated today is Hugo Chavez.”

Buenas Noches everyone!

11:15 p.m.

current results of votes in Lima:

Garcia: 63%, Humala: 37%

10:40 p.m.

Current results of international votes

Garcia: 65% , Humala 35 %

10:10 p.m.

Ollanta Humala conceded to Alan Garcia and recognized defeat.

In a brief statement he affirms that “according to our democratic commitment we recognize the results emitted by ONPE at 77% and salute to the forces that have competed with us, represented by Mr. Alan Garcia”.
He says that their political project continues and that the doors are open to all Peruvians who want to join the fight for the great change of Peru.

9:57 p.m.

The number of blank and nullified votes is surprisingly low!

Only 8% all together as of now.
Recent surveys suggested around 15%.

9:36 p.m.

FIRST OFFICIAL RESULTS (ONPE) :

Alan Garcia: 55.488 %
Ollanta Humala : 44.582 %

(at 21:07 p.m., 77.331% of processed votes)

9:17 p.m.

The first official results released by ONPE are coming up!
Instead of giving us an overall result first, Magdalena Chu, director of ONPE, reads the current results by regions and provinces, which will take FOREVER!
She sure knows how to keep people on their toes.
I can’t believe this………

9:00 p.m.

In a rousing speech before thousands of cheering and celebrating supporters in Lima, the aprista leader Alan Garcia proclaimed victory over his rival Ollanta Humala (Union por el Peru) for the second electoral round. He thanked God and the Peruvians for their vote. He promised a government of "agreement, togetherness, dialogue and openness" that will not forget the poor who have nothing.

8:45 p.m.

sorry for the one hour delay.... connection problems :-(
Peruvian internet lines seem heavily overloaded...

7:45 p.m.

In a calm, anti-triumphal message, Alan Garcia recognized the enormous support he gained in Lima and proposed a government of concentration, dialogue and openness. He specifically talked about the electorate in the south.
He expressed that the country has given a majority message for national sovereignty and not to be part of the outdated militarist model of president Hugo Chavez.
He expressed his confidence for the support of the Peruvian people and will offer proposals and actions so that the country continues to advance.
He actually agreed with Ollanta Humala who said that hope has won over fear. He ended his speech by saying that if the data of the ONPE wll confirm the current tendency, he will go to work for all Peruvians and the future of our children.

7:37 p.m.

Alan Garcia reads a statement to the public…

7:30 p.m.

Inofficial results by ‘Transparencia’, from 954 polling stations:

Alan Garcia: 52.4
Ollanta Humala: 47.6

Blank and nullified votes: 8.6%
‘Transparencia’ is known for its high accuracy.

7:25 p.m.

Quick count by Apoyo of 100% of votes (unofficial):
Garcia: 52.7 %
Humala: 47.3%

7:14 p.m.

Ollanta is reading a prepared statement, claiming victory.
He thanks the people for this social and political victory. This victory is for everybody, hope won over fear. He claims that today is a new beginning for transformation. We will wait for the official ONPE results. This is a historical victory for the nationalistic movement. In a single year the political agenda has changed and it has managed to wake up the conscience of the Peruvian people. He called on all political and economic forces to initiate the great national transformation. His commitment is to not betray the hope of the Peruvian people.

7:10 p.m.

Ollanta and wife Nadine are waving optimistically to the waiting crowd, showing the “V” sign for victory. Humala addressing the crowd now….

7:00 p.m.

Officials at APRA headquarters emphazised again that they will wait for the first quick count by ‘Transparencia’ and then address the public in more about 20-30 minutes.

Meanwhile, Reuters has an article on the exit poll results.

6:50 p.m.

While the wait for initial statements from both candidates continues, I thought I check the official ONPE result web page.
To my surprise (well, not really), they are still showing the results from the first round. Not a single word about today’s all decisive second round.

6:30 p.m.

Quick count

APOYO (86.5%)
Alan García 52.9%
Ollanta Humala 47.1%

DATUM (50%)
Alan García 55.4%
Ollanta Humala 44.6%

6:20 p.m.

Alan Garcia is expected to make his first statement soon at his campaign post in San Isidro. Ollanta Humala’s podium at his UPP base is also still empty.

6:00 p.m.

Alan Garcia leaves his residence in Surco to drive to his campaign headquarters. He does not address the media or the public.
At the same time, Ollanta Humala appears at his party headquarters, fighting his way through waiting supporters and the media. He also did not make any statements.

5:40 p.m.

A rather surprising fact is the obviously low level of support for Humala in Lima.
Humala gained 24% of the vote in Lima during the first round and according to the exit poll has improved this number by only 13% to 36.9%, whereas Garcia has improved in dramatic fashion, from 22% to 63.1% percent.

5:40 p.m.

A rather surprising fact is the obviously low level of support for Humala in Lima.
Humala gained 24% of the vote in Lima during the first round and according to the exit poll has improved this number by only 13% to 36.9%, whereas Garcia has improved in dramatic fashion, from 22% to 63.1% percent.

5:20 p.m.

The ex-presidential candidate Lourdes Flores says that the great percentage of “borrowed votes” for both candidates jeopardizes the winner to have a self-critical attitude and greater humility in the management that he is about to to begin.

The spokesmen of UPP, Gonzalo Garcia, announces that they will wait for the official results released by ONPE, especially from the the countryside. He indicates that the margin of error for exit polls is 5%.

5:11 p.m.

The representative of the National Election Jury (JNE), Nils Maura Gonza’les, has asked the population to avoid premature celebrations after the publishing of exit polls.
“These electoral flashes are not official results. Therefore, it is necessary to take them with the necessary calm. It is necessary to wait for the official results of the ONPE around 9 p.m.”

5:00 p.m.

Officials from both parties are telling people to remain calm. Alan Garcia will not talk publically until ONPE releases its first official results.

Tensions are growing in Arequipa between Humalistas and Apristas, rocks and bottles have been thrown. The police is trying to keep both parties separated.

4:05 p.m.

wow, this seems to be even closer than I expected. Looks like we’re all in for a long, exciting evening and perhaps longer…
The Humala clan is waving optimistically to their supporters chanting outside their residence. Garcia supporters in Trujillo are dancing in the streets.

3:15 p.m.

The national TV channel TNP is showing biographies of both candidates.
Interesting side note I just noticed: Nadine Heredia is not only Ollanta’s wife but also his aunt. Not sure how this looks from a family tree perspective…

45 minutes until exit polls…

2:45 p.m.

A computer hacker has already published “his own” wishful results of the election on a web site that looked exactly like the official ONPE website. The site has since been removed.

2:30 p.m.

Eduardo Garibotto of Humala’s party Unión por el Perú (UPP) alleged that Jaime Brossard is working for APRA as a national vote scrutinizer.
He was a member of the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) under José Portillo, the Fujimori official responsible for the fraudulent elections of 2000. Brossard is a computer specialist, and he was singled out by congress for being responsibe for altering the vote count.

2:20 p.m.

Reuters has created a “Factbox” about the elections.
You can read it here

My wife reports that after she left the polling station, UPP coordinators were waiting outside conducting their own exit polls. Everything is very quiet and organized.

2:00 p.m.

The National Election Jury and ONPE has promised that around midnight 60-70% of votes will be processed. 95% will be reached Monday evening and the final 100% result can be expected by next weekend.

1:50 p.m.

Voting in the United States is proceeding normally.
Only In Miami, one of the cities with a greater amount of voters, a delayed installation of tables caused a series of disorders. In Chicago, on the other hand, the atmosphere is described as tranquil and orderly.

1:45 p.m.

President Toledo announced to the press that he will reconstruct his party, Peru Posible, and to continue working for democracy and against poverty in Latin America. He does not discard the possibility of eventually running again for president and taking a seat in “Pizarro’s armchair”.

1:30 p.m.

two and a half hours left until polling stations in Peru are closing and the results of exit polls will be published. Stay tuned

1:15 p.m.

related international press coverage today:

Peru votes after fierce campaign (by BBC News)

Results are expected to be very close. Polls suggest ex-President Alan Garcia will win a narrow majority over nationalist candidate Ollanta Humala. Because of this, campaigning has been especially fierce - few in Peru can remember a dirtier, more aggressive election campaign.

Peruvians pick a president; Election pits nationalist against former president (by CNN)

Peruvians faced a choice in Sunday’s presidential elections between a former president hoping his dazzling oratory has helped erase memories of his disastrous first administration and a fiery political newcomer pledging to punish a corrupt political establishment.

12:45 p.m.

Voting in Spain and the rest of Europe also concluded four hours ago. Unlike the disorganization that reigned in Spain during the first round on April 9, today came and went in total normality, according to reports.
More than 70,000 Peruvians live in Spain who could vote at installed tables in Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Las Palmas (Gran Canaria), Palma de Mallorca, Santa Cruz (Tenerife), Santiago de Compostela, Seville, Valencia and Zaragoza.

12:30 p.m.

The Peruvian elections this year, unlike previous elections, is also of vital importance from an international perspective.
Depending on who wins the presidency, Peru will either reinforce the axis formed by Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Chile or, in all probability, the country will join the bloc created by Venezuela, Bolivia and Cuba. The election in Peru comes one week after the elections in Colombia, which was won by conservative president Alvaro Uribe in a landslide. In contrast, in recent elections of other Latin American countries like Chile, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, new heads of state were chosen who mainly represent the political left.

12:00 p.m.

Newly elected congresswoman Keiko Fujimori, daughter of ex-president Alberto Fujimori, gave her vote.

11:50 a.m.

Lourdes Flores Nano, ex-presidential candidate of Unidad Nacional, said that it is the voters who will decide what is best for our country. After she prematurely announced her victory over Garcia on April 9, she now shows a rather hesitant attitude. “It is necessary to wait for the result which represents the voice of the people, the voice of the country. I hope that it will be a peacuful day.”
She confessed that she prayed to God to enlighten the Peruvians so that our country “finds progress and peace”.

11:40 a.m.

Alan Garcia in an interview for the Washington Post, published today:

The Chavez phenomenon is militarism with a lot of money. Mr. Chavez poses risks for Peru. First I thought Fidel [Castro] was behind him, but Fidel no longer has the force he used to, so I suppose he now depends on Chavez. Chavez is using his millions of dollars to try and extend influence in the Andean countries, first Bolivia, now cloning a commandante in Peru, then Ecuador, to surround Colombia, where he sees U.S. imperialism as strongest in Latin America. . . . Peru tends to appreciate people in the world with high intellectual and cultural levels. There is little to appreciate about President Chavez. He is only relevant because of oil money. Soon Chavez will be burning out in Venezuela. Everyone who strays too far from his own space ends up burning out.”

11:17 a.m.

Due to a 14-hour time difference, voting in Japan has already concluded. 22,198 Peruvians reside in the land of the rising sun. The Peruvian consulate in Tokyo had assigned 16 polling stations in major cities.

11.00 a.m.

President Alejandro Toledo arrives at his polling station at the Colegioo Cristo Salvador in Surco

10:45 a.m.

5.3 % of eligible voters, most of them in rural areas, cannot vote because they don’t have an identification card. In Loreto and Madre de Dios it will take some voters 5-8 hours to get to the polling stations.

10:15 a.m.

Ollanta Humala, his wife Nadine Heredia and two young kids are holding a breakfast press conference at the UPP party headquarters in San Borja. He is hoping for a strong attendance and animates voters to make a choice instead of giving blank or invalid votes. He cannot present the names of his potential cabinet members until it is clear who the winner is. The talk with the media takes place in a very relaxed and cheerful atmosphere. He states again that nationalism will be the new economic and political model (referencia) for the 21st century.

10:03 a.m.

Garcia’s wife Pilar makes her way through the crowd. She said she was satisfied with the campaign even it was a long road that lasted 7 months. She is an economist and currently working on her master’s degree in social economics. She said she plans to actively support and advise her husband in her area of expertise if he should be elected.

10:00 a.m.

Garcia has already left the premises. The procedure lasted less than 10 minutes. He will spend the day waiting for the first results at his residence in Surco.

9:50 a.m.

Alan Garcia arrives at his polling station in Miraflores. He avoids talking to the press. The crowd outside the Colegio is in has favor, cheering “Alan Presidente”.

9:30 a.m.

Alan Garcia and his family held his traditional breakfast with the media at the APRA headquarters. He intends to vote later this morning a the Colegio Scipion LLona in Lima’s district of Miraflores. His wife Pilar will vote at a later time, for security reasons ONPE has requested that both candidates go to the voting both alone.

8:00 a.m

Hello and buenos dias everyone. It is a foggy, cool morning in Lima. I even noticed a few sprinkles on my way to the bakery this morning.
Ollanta Humala went for his early morning jog an hour ago and then, to everone’s surprise and undedected by the media, proceeded to the polling station with his wife, Nadine Heredia, to deliver his vote without any major incidents.

However, he did choose the wrong door at first at the Unversity Ricardo Palma in Santiago de Surco. Humala and his wife entered the voting room separately to distract bystanders and the media.

During the first round on April 9, Humala had to fight his way through a hostile crowd of protesters in a way that it reminded of someone walking a gauntlet.

tags : Peru election election2006 Humala Garcia politics coverage

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Elections 2006 | 3 June, 2006 [ 13:36 ]

Peruvians choose their next president

More than 16 million Peruvians at home and around the world will return to the ballot boxes tomorrow to choose their new Head of State for the next five years.
Polling stations will open at 8:00 a.m. and conclude at 4.00 p.m. The first to vote are Peruvians living in Japan.
The National Office of the Election Process (ONPE) announced that the virtual winner will be known the day after, on Monday, June 5. The overall expectation is that 95% of the votes will be processed by then. On the eve of election day the forecast is that around 60-70% of the votes should be counted and processed, according to Magdalena Chu, director of ONPE.

“The second round is going to be a much simpler process than the first. We are going to surpass the long and sometimes complicated delivery routes of the April-9 elections", Chu declared. She also assured the security of both candidates during their march to the voting center. A repeat of Humala's first-round gauntlet to the ballot box will be prevented.

The candidates, Alan Garcia and Ollanta Humala, did not have any public appearances yesterday, as required by electoral law, but both sent messages to their supporters. The Aprista leader Alan Garcia asked for the people's serenity while nationalist Ollanta Humala (Union por el Peru), on his way from Cusco to Lima, asked for a massive participation and the support of the people.  the Peruvians from the Cusco, before starting off for Lima, going to vote this Sunday massively.

Although a recently proposed official agreement was not signed, both candidates were committed to respect the result of the elections.
Garcia announced that if he should lose, he will contribute to the government of his political opponent. “If I should lose I will handle it like I did in 2001. I am a Peruvian and I will not leave this country. If Mr. Humala would come to me and ask for my help, I will tell him: Here I am. What do you need?”.

Humala maintained that he will accept the official announcement of the ONPE, even if it is not in his favor.
“We are going to respect the results democratically. When there are two competitors, everybody knows that one wins and the other loses. We do not know who that will be and we hope to be the winners."



tags : Peru election2006 politics Humala Garcia

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Elections 2006 | 2 June, 2006 [ 21:32 ]

Opinions of the foreign press

We are gathering a collection of opinions by the international press. We will update this section as soon as new articles are published:

Peru's Voters May Turn to a Tested, and Failed, Leader (by Juan Forero, New York Times)

In his quest for the presidency, Alan García, the front-runner going into the runoff election on Sunday, disparages his opponent's supposed authoritarian streak, his military upbringing and his ties to President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela.

But mostly Mr. García is running against the past, namely his own record as president in the 1980's, when his populist policies and inflationary economic program left Peru teetering on the edge of bankruptcy and unchecked terrorist violence.

read more...

Ex-president and hardliner split Peru in election battle (by Jude Webber, The Independent)

Peruvians are to vote in a run-off tomorrow between a former president who left the country in economic tatters and a former army officer who is offering a return to nationalism, after an increasingly bitter election campaign.

Although the nationalist, Ollanta Humala, 43, was comfortably ahead in a first round of voting on 9 April, he has trailed 57-year-old Alan Garcia, Peru's president from 1985 to 1990, ever since, amid increasing alarm that Mr Humala's affinity with President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela would mean a return to authoritarian rule in the South American country.

read more...

Peru's Presidential Circus (by Lucien Chauvin, TIME Magazine)

With Hugo Chavez, Fidel Castro and former President Fujimori having their names invoked in the runup to Sunday's election, the colorful campaign has been about everything but the real issues at hand.

Anyone suddenly tuning in to Peru's presidential runoff this Sunday could easily be confused between the names in the news and those on the ballot. They might even wonder which South American country they are in. Former President Alan Garcìa, the pre-election favorite, is easily identifiable, but he has made his opponent a little harder to pin down. While Garcìa, 57, is pitted against retired Army colonel Ollanta Humala, 43, his comments in the waning days of the race make it seem as if he is running against Venezuela's leftist president Hugo Chávez. In his final campaign swing and last-minute TV ads, Garcìa tells voters that they have a clear choice, voting for him and the future of Peru or for Chávez.

read more...

Race to win Peru election closer than expected (by Hal Weitzman, Financial Times)

Peruvians go to the polls tomorrow to vote in a presidential election that may be closer than had long been expected.
In recent weeks opinion polls had given Alan Garcia, the populist former president from 1985-1990, a comfortable lead of up to 20 percentage points over Ollanta Humala, his radical nationalist rival.

But “simulation” surveys – in which respondents participate in a “mock vote” – in the past week have suggested that the race may have a much closer finish.

read more...

Peruvian election pits unappealing pair (by Tyler Bridges, Miami Herald)

Voters in Peru's presidential election Sunday will be choosing between one candidate who says he has learned from his disastrous presidency 20 years ago and another who says he will not turn into a military dictator.

Polls show voters tilting toward former President Alán García over retired Lt. Col. Ollanta Humala in the runoff, although Humala led the vote in the first round of balloting April 9.

read more...

Tough choice for Peru's voters (by Nick Caistor, BBC regional analyst)

The two men contesting the run-off election for president in Peru on 4 June could not have more contrasting backgrounds.

"Alan Garcia could not be a dictator even if he wanted; Ollanta Humala could not be a democrat even if he tried".
(Gustavo Gorritti, Peruvian commentator)

read more...

Two populist leftists vie for power in Peru vote (Robin Emmot, Reuters/Washington Post)

A nationalist pledging revolution for the poor and an ex-president promising to atone for economic ruin in his first term vie for Peru's presidency on Sunday in an election many analysts say is too close too call.

read more...

Peruvian candidate tries to live down past (Carla Salazar, AP/Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

At 6-foot-3, former President Alan Garcia strikes an imposing figure in his bid for re-election. But he also casts a long shadow of dark memories.
To Maria Teresa Chavez, a 46-year-old housewife, Garcia's 1985-90 administration was a time when she would stand in line for hours, shopping basket stuffed with wads of devalued currency, to buy two pounds of sugar and a can of milk for her children's breakfast.

read more...

A False Dichotomy (Max A. Cameron, comment-is-free/The Guardian UK)

On June 4 2006, Peruvian voters will choose their next president in a run-off between the top two contenders from the first-round election, which was held on April 9.

The polls put Alan García Pérez, the former president (1985-1990) and leader of the American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (APRA), ahead of Ollanta Humala Tasso, the outsider candidate and leader of the Union for Peru (UPP) who has aligned himself with presidents Hugo Chávez of Venezuela and Evo Morales of Bolivia.

read more...

Devil in the detail for Peru's voters (by Hannah Hennessy, BBC News)

On 4 June, voters in Peru will decide whether, for them, it's better the devil you know or the devil you don't.
The two men vying for president both represent a swing to the left. The former President, Alan Garcia, would mean a move to the centre-left.
His nationalist rival, Ollanta Humala, could deliver a more seismic shift to the kind of politics favoured by Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, his close ally and a growing thorn in the side of Washington.

read more...

Will Peru join populist tide sweeping South America? (by Colin McMahon, Chicago Tribune/Seattle Times)

When Peruvians vote Sunday for a new president, some will go to the polls hoping a firebrand outsider will bring equality to the South American country. Others will want to give a second chance to a former president who says he has learned from his mistakes.

And then there are the rest of the voters, a lot of them, who will walk into the polling booths holding their noses and hoping for the best.

read more...

US may gain unlikely regional ally against Chávez if García wins election in Peru
(by Hal Weitzman, Financial Times)

It was billed as a clash of the titans. On one side were Hugo Chávez, the fiery Venezuelan president, and his protégé Evo Morales, the Bolivian leader, who a few days earlier had announced the nationalisation of his country's gas sector. On the other side were Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Néstor Kirchner, the more moderate left-leaning presidents of Brazil and Argentina, the countries most affected by Bolivia's move.
But the expected confrontation at a summit on the issue last month ended in a round of back-slapping and an endorsement of Mr Morales's move.

read more...

Peru party buzzing with campaign activity (by Rick Vecchio, Associated Press)

Days before Peru's presidential runoff, the headquarters of the country's oldest and most disciplined political party is buzzing with furious campaign activity. Come election day, its old-fashioned get-out-the-vote drive could return Alan Garcia to the presidency.
During Garcia's 1985-90 term, the American Popular Revolutionary Alliance party became known for bare-knuckled politics, patronage jobs, economic chaos, guerrilla violence and rampant corruption. Alberto Fujimori's 10-year autocratic presidency followed, along with the downfall of Peru's political parties.

read more...

Voters will decide on Peru's 'bad boy' (by Gwynne Dyer, Bankok Post)

Why is an untried, unstable, eccentric dark horse like Ollanta Humala within a few percentage points of winning the Peruvian presidency on Sunday?

Ollanta Humala is ''plotting a coup d'etat with a democratic face'', warned the president of Peru's Congress, Marcial Ayaipoma. ''Maintain democracy or go to dictatorship: that is what is at stake in these elections,'' declared Mario Vargas Llosa, Peru's most famous writer and a former presidential candidate.
''Humala is going to govern with the military, close Congress, have a confrontation with Washington, permit free cultivation of coca, and he won't sign the free trade pact. He'll persecute the press... It'll be a dictatorship, there's no doubt about it,'' predicted former foreign minister Fernando Rospigliosi.
How fortunate, then, that Ollanta Humala is not going to win the run-off vote for the Peruvian presidency on Sunday.

read more...

tags : Peru election2006 politics Humala Garcia foreignpress opinion

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Elections 2006 | 2 June, 2006 [ 11:06 ]

Garcia closes campaign in Lima

The presidential candidate of APRA, Alan Garcia closed his electoral campaign in Lima  last night in front of thousands of supporters who set off fireworks and streamers in the Peruvian national colours of red and white, cheering and waving flags and banners saying "Alan for president".
He tried to clear the doubts and fears that surounded his candidacy, assuring that he will not commit the errors of the past and promised that people will not have to stand in line for food again.

Garcia predicted that this Sunday, democracy will prevail over the militarist right”, and announced again that he will prevent “hatred, violence and confrontation between the Peruvians”, in direct reference to his contender and nationalist, Ollanta Humala.

He assured his commitment for a solid and stable economy, which leaves no space for the errors of the past, and affirmed his respect for the Constitution, the laws and democracy.
In reference to a recent maritime border dispute with Chile he said that "not one inch of the 200 marine miles will be touched”.

Garcia reaffirmed his proposals to provide the Limean shantyowns and rural areas of the country with potable water, to create a development plan for the country's south,  to arrange affordable credits for agriculturists and small businesses, as well as respect ing the eight-hour work day.

In addition, he reiterated that he pushes to install the death for the rape of minors and to fortify social programs such as 'Vaso de Leche' (cup of milk), so that there will be "zero hunger" throughout the country.

He also announced an initiative before Congress that the salaries of the political class is reduced by 50 percent.



tags : Peru election2006 Humala Garcia politics

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Elections 2006 | 2 June, 2006 [ 10:30 ]

Humala closes campaign in Cusco

The presidential candidate of Union por el Peru, Ollanta Humala, closed his campaign in the former Inca capital of Cusco last night in front of thousands of men and women dressed in red and white.

He announced that nationalism is the new 'political reference' of the twentyfirst century.
"I believe that we have constructed something beautiful for all Peruvians", Humala told the press after the rally at the Plaza de Armas.

Visibly moved, Humala said that whatever the results may be on Sunday, nationalism will have a long life in the country. "Our project is waking up the conscience of thousands of Peruvians and I feel the responsibility of not letting them down or betraying them", he said.
During his speech, Humala again insisted that his political option represents the change of the present neoliberal economic system that, according to him, only benefits a part of the population. “We are at a crossroads. What have to define a new economic model to change the destiny of our families. We need to recover our values, our mother country”.

He dedicated the greater part of his speech to question and attack his electoral rival, instead of reiterating his basic proposals.
He again insisted on the necessity to change the Constitution of 1993. “We will reconstruct a democratic, egalitarian society for everybody, with a new Constitution”.

With respect to Alan Garcia, Humala repeated that he is the candidate of Montesinos, Toledo, Vargas Llosa and the godfather of the economic powerful people. For that reason it pleaded to all undecided voters to vote for him.



tags : Peru election2006 Humala Garcia politics

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Elections 2006 | 1 June, 2006 [ 16:09 ]

Up to 10 years in jail for disturbing elections

The Public prosecutor of the Nation, Adelaida Bolivar, announced today that people who commit violent acts, voice threats, or prevent the normal development of the second presidential electoral round next Sunday, could be sanctioned with up to 10 years in jail.

Bolivar referred that these sanctions will be judicially based on 4 articles of the Penal Code contemplating 'crimes against popular will'.

1,700 public prosecutors will be on alert at a national level to take immediate action, if necessary.  300 of them belong to the jurisdiction of Lima, North Callao and Cono.

Also, 200 medical legal experts of the Medicina Institute Legal (IML) will be prepared to take possible actions.



tags : Peru election2006 politics Humala Garcia law justice

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Elections 2006 | 1 June, 2006 [ 12:30 ]

President garantuees security on election day

The president of the Republic, Alejandro Toledo, directed a message to the nation with respect to the accomplishment of the second electoral round on Sunday.
He called on candidates Alan Garcia and Ollanta Humala to maintain their composure and guaranteed the necessary measures to maintain public order during the elections.

“Insults or physical attacks do not fortify democracy, to the contrary, they are debilitating”, Toledo said last night in nationwide broadcasted message. His public address coincided with a series of accusations, insults, defamations and denunciations between both candidates.

Toledo indicated that the mutual aggressions “turn adversaries into political enemies”. Consequently, the Head of State urged them to rather expose their proposals and to maintain the guidelines of the National Agreement (Acuerdo Nacional).

In addition he indicated that the next government will be a transition which requires “consensus, order and inclusion”. He insisted that the loosing candidate shall recognize the victory of his adversary.

The president guaranteed the security and the transparency of the elections and assured that "indications of any intention to deceive the citizen vote do not exist”.
“Our government guarantees the security, before, during and after the electoral act. We have arranged all the measures necessary to guarantee public order”, he added.

He also announced that a political and technical commission has been designed that will prepare the transference of government. “We can tell them that we have done everything there is to do. Thus we will render the accountability to the country. We will give all the necessary information for a successful management”.


Finally it took advantage of the opportunity to reiterate that it rejects any foreign intervention in the electoral joust “comes from where comes”.


tags : Peru election2006 Toledo publicaddress politics

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Elections 2006 | 1 June, 2006 [ 11:32 ]

Emails showing alleged bond between APRA and Fujimoristas are fake

The presidential candidate of Union Por El Peru (UPP), Ollanta Humala, refuses to admit that the electronic mails presented by his party and used to accuse the Aprista party and the Fujimoristas bonding with each other, are false. The newspaper 'El Comercio' verified that these emails were an obvious fabrication.
Interviewers of America TV made references to the information published in 'El Comercio' but Humala did not want to give more details on the matter.

“I am not an investigator. In any case, these emails were handed to the office of the public prosecutor and it is their task to investigate their accuracy and authenticity”, he said.

After fast-tracking the origin of the emails presented by UPP spokesman, Carlos Tapia, it was determined that the messages were not sent from Chile but from Lima.

The supposedly personal emails were written by the Argentine publicist Daniel Borobio and sent to a friend of his in Lima, Vicente Silva Checa.
The sender's email address, who resides in Santiago de Chile, was apparently valid, also the one of the addressee in Lima. Nevertheless, a fast tracking procedure revealed that the sending email server was located in Lima and not the Chilean capital.

The tracking of emails regarding origin and routes is easy because they usually contain such information in the message header. This text travels through the Internet enumerating all the points /servers through which it passes during its short trip, including hour, date and server names.

In this case, the controversial message originated in Lima and their creators used a camouflage technique to make it look like the author resides in Chile using a corporative mail domain 'corporativachile.cl'.

The same technique is frequently used by spammers.

tags : Peru election2006 Humala Garcia politics

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