Peru’s vote review resumes as thousands protest disputed presidential election
A panel reviewing challenges to Peru’s contested presidential election has resumed work after a new judge was sworn in as thousands of supporters of socialist Pedro Castillo and his right-wing rival Keiko Fujimori took to the streets in the capital Lima.
On Saturday, Victor Raul Rodriguez was sworn in to replace Luis Arce, who had announced Wednesday that he “declined” to carry out his duties as one of the four judges of the National Jury of Elections (JNE).
The JNE is Peru's final vote arbiter and is tasked with reviewing vote results.
Arce, however, could not resign under law until the task at hand has been done.
Meanwhile, thousands of demonstrators from both sides took to the streets once more on Saturday to show their support for both Castillo and Fujimori.
Castillo's supporters rallied in downtown Lima toward Plaza San Martin, a block from the headquarters of the electoral jury that will judge the vote. Holding giant banners and photos of the socialist candidate, the leftists demanded that the judges in the top elections body declare Castillo the winner.
A few blocks away from them, thousands of Fujimori's supporters waving Peruvian flags and banners marched to the Plaza Bolognesi, where the candidate addressed them. Fujimori's camp demands that the “rigged” presidential election be repeated.
Unofficial vote counts of the tight June 6 election show that Castillo won the race with a slim margin. He bagged 50.12 percent of the votes in the election, or some 44,000 more than Fujimori.
Fujimori, however, has raised allegations of vote-rigging and election fraud against her rival. She faces an imminent graft trial if she does not win the election. She is the daughter of jailed ex-president Alberto Fujimori.
The JNE must review the allegations of election fraud and vote-rigging lodged by Fujimori's camp against Castillo.
Top JNE judge, Jorge Luis Salas, said, "Electoral justice cannot remain paralyzed or blocked." The panel has already rejected the majority of Fujimori's objections.
The new president is scheduled to be sworn in on July 28, which coincides with Peru's Independence Day.
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