Keiko Fujimori Projected to Win First Round of Peruvian Elections

Keiko Fujimori, daughter of jailed ex-president Alberto Fujimori, may have won the first round of voting, but faces a June runoff, according to the Associated Press. Officials have counted over 20% of the vote, with businessman Pedro Kuczynski coming in second and Congresswoman Veronika Mendoza landing third place. The full results are expected to be announced on Monday.

Keiko Fujimori, daughter of jailed ex-president Alberto Fujimori, may have won the first round of voting, but faces a June runoff, according to the Associated Press. Officials have counted over 20% of the vote, with businessman Pedro Kuczynski coming in second and Congresswoman Veronika Mendoza landing third place. The full results are expected to be announced on Monday.

Keiko Fujimori has long been a favorite throughout the Peruvian presidential race, but she faces an uphill battle going forward, as half of survey respondents said they would never support a candidate associated with Alberto Fujimori.

The former president was convicted on numerous charges from 2007 to 2009, ranging from death squad killings to embezzlement, for which he serves a 25-year sentence. With that, some Peruvians hold fond memories of her father for stabilizing the economy and combating Maoist insurgent group, Shining Path.

Keiko Fujimori holds the same rightist views as her father, although she departs from him on certain issues. She leads Popular Force, a party that abides by Fujimorism, a set of principles based on Alberto Fujimori’s governance. Fujimorism is a controversial ideology, but it is steeped in political pragmatism, allowing his daughter to support rightist policies while aiming to enhance the country’s social safety net for the poor, notes Latin Correspondent.

Repeat of the Past?

Keiko Fujimori served as official first lady when her parents divorced in the 1990s, and she ran for president in 2011 only to lose during a June runoff that same year. The front-runner could follow a similar fate in 2016 if she fails to win over more voters. Kuczynski champions himself as a centrist, intending to boost education and agriculture, while expanding healthcare.

Out of all opponents, Kuczynski poses the most threat to Fujimori, with one poll projecting his victory in the June runoff. She faces a tough road ahead politically, but the economy is another factor looming over her, especially in the area of commodities.

Commodity Sector

One of her proposals includes tapping into a rainy-day fund to revitalize the nation’s infrastructure and counteract the ramifications of lower commodity prices on the world market.

Peru could become the second-largest copper producer in the world and has enjoyed lucrative growth over the years, which partially explains why leftist contender Mendoza landed third place, as many Peruvians fear her intention to disband the nation’s mining-friendly constitution could jeopardize economic progress.

Path to Victory

The commodities sector is a vital industry for Peru, but lacking opportunities and rampant corruption are two primary areas holding back the economy, and Fujimori has given little indication she would tackle corrupt governance.

Despite her negatives, Fujimori could stand a better chance of winning the runoff, as many Peruvians grow fearful of rising crime rates and drug activity, and many feel that her leadership harkens back to her father’s emphasis on national security, especially at a time when terrorist attacks are fresh on the minds of voters. Remaining Shining Path members launched an attack that killed a civilian and four soldiers on Saturday.