The FiscalĂa of Peru, the country’s top prosecutor, has opened an investigation into Vladimiro Montesinos, the imprisoned former intelligence chief under dictator Alberto Fujimori, following release of a recording in which he evidently urges electoral authorities to throw the pending presidential election to Keiko Fujimoriâdaughter of the ex-dictator. The so-called “Vladiaudios” were released by Pedro Rejas, a retired military officer and Fujimori loyalist who received the phone call from Montesinos on June 23. In the call they appear to discuss bribing members of the National Jury of Elections (JNE). Also under investigation is Luis Arce CĂłrdova, a JNE member who on the same day as the phone call was forced to step down for conflict of interest in response statements in favor of candidate Fujimori. (Aristegui Noticias, IDL-Reporteros, The Guardian, TeleSur)
Results of the June 6 run-off between Fujimori and left-populist rival Pedro Castillo remain pending, as Fujimori has filed numerous challenges with the JNE charging voter fraud. Her supporters have meanwhile launched a social-media campaign overtly playing to racism against Castillo’s indigenous and campesino support base. The US State Department and other international observers have said the election was clean. The swearing-in ceremony for a new president is scheduled for July 28. (PRI, WaPo)
Photo: A.Davey/Flickr via Aula Blog
Pedro Castillo declared winner in Peru presidential race
Peru’s National Elections Jury (JNE) proclaimed candidate JosĂ© Pedro Castillo Terrones as president-elect of the republic for the period 2021-2026 on July 19. The declaration followed a review of challenges brought by rival candidate Keiko Fujimori, alleging widespread voter fraud.
Castillo responded to the decision by saying: “The moment has arrived to call on all sectors of society to build together, in this bicentennial year, an inclusive Peru, a just Peru, a free Peru. Without discrimination, and with rights for all.” (PerĂș21)