Current Affairs

Issue

The result of June election has declared Pedro Castillo as the President-elect of Peru. The result comes a month after a highly polarized electoral battle.

 

Background

Castillo is a rural school teacher who comes from Andes region of the country. He was a left-wing trade union leader.

 

Details

• Castillo gained a lead of just about 44,000 votes in the election. His opponent and right-wing politician Keiko Fujimori had alleged electoral fraud.

• These allegations had forced the withholding of results. The final voting had taken place after they emerged frontrunners among 18 other potential candidates.

 

Situation in Peru

• Peru is infamous for its instability of institutions. It has changed four presidents and two parliaments in a span of five years.

• While some sections have expressed happiness over Castillo’s win, there are apprehensions about his ability to implement sweeping reforms due to small victory margin.

 

Pedro Castillo

• Castillo was a union leader and belonged to the Peru Libre, a Marxist party. He has promised nationalizing of mining sector and creating new jobs in rural areas.

• He is said to be in favour of introducing measures such as death penalty to tackle crimes. He has links with several left-wing extremist groups in the country.

 

Victory of left wing

• Many people have bad memories of Shining Path Communist insurgency of the 1980s. They fear a similar fate if Castillo does not renounce ties with left-wing extremists.

• Castillo has promised to improve heath sector and improving social welfare schemes for the poor. There are also chances of nationalizing mining industry.