Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lima (Agenzia Fides) - The second round of the 2021 general elections was held in Peru on Sunday, June 6 and to date, after more than a week, the official results are not yet known. The National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) has not yet finished counting the votes because a good part has taken a long time to arrive, especially those from abroad and indigenous areas. Furthermore, the complaint filed by Keiko Fujimori against Pedro Castillo, the winning candidate, for alleged electoral fraud seems to be able to slow down the process. In the partial result of the ONPE, carried out at 1:50 p.m. on Sunday, June 13, with 99.935% of the ballots examined, it was found that Pedro Castillo (Peru Libre) had collected 50.140% of the votes, before Keiko Fujimori ( Popular Force) which has 49.860% of the support of the electorate. According to the local press, the official announcement cannot be postponed for another week. While the tension between the parties continues, the Church has called for the union of Peruvians. "Peru as never before is split in two, and now we all have to be responsible for uniting, for building a country that has the assurance that we are family", said Cardinal Pedro Barreto Jimeno SJ, Archbishop of Huancayo and first Vice President of the Peruvian Episcopate to the press, after receiving the second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. The Cardinal made his opinion known about the political situation in the country after the first official results of the second electoral round. "Peru deserves a climate of tranquility and serenity", he stressed, which is why he invited all citizens and political parties to wait and scrupulously respect the official results. "To question and speak of fraud, of a coup, in short, of several other things, that is irresponsible and we cannot accept it", he reiterated. Finally, he added that the Catholic Church and civil society must accompany the next President of the Republic in a responsible and respectful manner. (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 15/6/2021)
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