Today in El Diario: Peruvians Face Awful Presidential Choice
Ex-militant vs. Authoritarian for Peruvian President
In Peru's upcoming presidential runoffs, the Andean nation is faced with two polemic picks for the next head of state: leftist ex-militant Ollanta Humala and Keiko Fujimori, daughter of ex-president Alberto Fujimori, who many fear will violate human rights, the Spanish-language daily reports.
Peruvian Nobel Laureate Mario Vargas Llosa compared the candidates to a choice between "AIDS and terminal cancer," according to El Diario. But the National Office of Electoral Processes confirmed that Humala and Fujimori did indeed garner the most votes in the first round of polling, which took place Sunday.
Many Peruvians are concerned because Humala wants to change the constitution. The former army lieutenant colonel has openly declared his kinship with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. He also wants state control of the economy, the newspaper notes.
Others worry that Keiko would rule with her father's heavy handedness. Alberto Fujimori, who served as president from 1990-2000, is serving a 25-year sentence for human rights violations. His administration was also rife with corruption, and he tried to eliminate the free press, the paper states.
Keiko, the paper reports, hopes to downplay this. Instead, she plans to capitalize on her father's successful economic policies, which halted hyperinflation.
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