Peru’s Presidential Election Driven by Mistrust, Not Enthusiasm

Peru’s Presidential Election Driven by Mistrust, Not  Enthusiasm

LIMA, Peru -- As Peruvians return to the polls this Sunday for a second round of voting in an extremely tight presidential race, the outcome will likely be determined by voters' fear and mistrust of the losing candidate rather than by enthusiasm for the winner and his or her platform.

The latest polls show a technical tie between conservative Congresswoman Keiko Fujimori, 36, and leftist retired military officer Ollanta Humala, 48, with Fujimori ahead by less than the margin of error in most recent polls. Both candidates have striven to appeal to moderate voters while making populist campaign promises, but their personal histories and past associations leave many a Peruvian worried and alienated.

"This election isn't for me. I don't agree with either candidate," said Julio Urrutia, an insurance broker in Lima. "I don't feel represented," he said, adding that many people he knows feel the same way.

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