Disciplined first debate between Pedro Castillo and Keiko Fujimori

First Presidential candidate TV-debate on the market square of the city of Chota

With a delay of a couple of minutes the first live-broadcast debate between the two Presidential candidates took place yesterday between Pedro Castillo, candidate of the left-leaning party Peru Libre, and Keiko Fujimori, from the Fuerza Popular party.  The location was the market square of the North Peruvian city of Chota.

The city’s mayor had organised the repartee very well.  Both candidates had exactly the same amount of speaking time.  Some of the topics they covered were the health crisis, economic development, corruption, criminality and the school system.  After the debate left-leaning media saw Castillo as the winner of the debate while other polls put Fujimori ahead.

Peru will go to the polls on 6th June.  Peru is currently in its biggest crisis in 30 years.  Alone in the capital Lima more than 2 million people lost their jobs due to the pandemic.  According to the state mortality register roughly 160,000 Peruvians have died from Covid-19.  The current distressing situation has brought about a clear radicalisation of the political discourse.

We assume that most Peruvians watched the debate either on their TV- or computer-screens. Looking onto Chota’s market square.

As a Christian humanitarian organisation Diospi Suyana is compelled to political neutrality.  At the most recent visit of the future Congressman Paul Gutiérez Ticona Dr John said: “If your candidate wins, we in the hospital will pray for God’s blessing for him.  But should Keiko Fujimori move into the Palace, then we will pray for her!”

The elected congressman Gutiérez Ticona of the“Peru Libre” party stands left next to Dr John.
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