Cancer or Aids?

Mario Vargas Llosa compared Peru's presidential candidates to cancer and Aids. The entire country is deciding between the lesser of two evils today. It has often been referred to as "an impossible choice". The first election was back in April, there were several candidates (Peru has over 20 different political parties). No one got 51% of the vote, so we are now having the "run-off" today between the top two vote getters: Keiko Fujimori and Ollanta Humala.

Keiko and Ollanta after their televised debate.

Keiko is the daughter of former president Alberto Fujimori who is in jail serving a 25 year sentence for death squad massacres. Ollanta has been compared to Venezuela's Hugo Chavez and is rumored to want to throw all of us foreigners out of the country (though I have no credible source for this rumor). Either way, it is tumultuous race and today we will have a new President. One that half the country will hate.

The campaigns have been going strong for years now and we are finally reaching the end of a long, hard road to the presidency. I remember last year being in Cajamarca and a press team met our plane (arriving with FPC Jackson for a week of medical campaigns). Keiko was on our plane and had started her bid. Back then in July 2010, we did not think she had a chance. Today she may become the first female president of Peru. It has been interesting to watch this election and the people's very strong reaction to the final 2 candidates.

Everyone says they are not in favor of either. This has puzzled me as at least 50% of the voters the first time voted for them. Notwithstanding, many Peruvians tell me they are not voting at all. This is a strong statement as you are required to vote here in Peru and are fined if you do not. Monday Ollanta was here in Trujillo. Keiko arrived Wednesday and both had large rallies in the Plaza d'Armas. (Interesting side note: these political rallies are called "meetings". It is always funny to me when in Spanish it is an English word.) We have seen signs, rallies, parades, campaigners for months now and in about 6 to 8 more hours it will all be over and a new President will take office for the next 5 years. To read more about the candidates, this article here has a good summary.

For now, please remember to pray for Peru and the elections today. Stay tuned and I will post hopefully later tonight or tomorrow about the winner.