LIMA (Reuters) – Thousands of Peruvians marched in downtown Lima on Friday to demand the electoral board bar presidential frontrunner Keiko Fujimori from next month’s vote after it disqualified two of her rivals in an unprecedented move that has shaken the race.
Protesters said the centre-right politician should be thrown from the race because pictures and video show her and a running mate handing out gifts and prizes at rallies in possible violation of a new law against vote-buying.
Electoral authorities are investigating the accusations.
Fujimori, the 40-year-old daughter of imprisoned ex-president Alberto Fujimori, has dismissed the accusations as “absurd.” Her press officer did not immediately respond to requests for comment outside regular working hours.
One of Fujimori’s rivals was thrown out of the race on Wednesday for giving cash to poor voters while campaigning. Her biggest obstacle to winning, Julio Guzman, was disqualified because his party did not comply with electoral procedures – a decision he called “fraud” that threatens to tarnish the legacy of the next president.
The electoral board has denied wrongdoing or political bias.
The US Department of State said it was closely following Peru’s electoral process and that the ambassador to Peru had spoken with Guzman, a spokesperson told Reuters Friday.
Protesters chanted “Stop Keiko!” at the headquarters of the National Jury of Elections, which issued a statement urging the news media to “contribute to a climate of peace.”