Peru bars presidential candidate, could disqualify another

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

World | Fri Mar 4, 2016 1:07pm EST

Peru bars presidential candidate, could disqualify another

LIMA

Peru barred a presidential hopeful from next month's elections because of vote-buying allegations and moved toward disqualifying second-place candidate Julio Guzman, in a surprise move that could turn the electoral race on its head.

Both candidates - wealthy former governor Cesar Acuna and centrist technocrat Guzman - can appeal the decisions before the National Jury of Elections. A final ruling would then be handed down between Tuesday and Wednesday, the board said.

Guzman, seen tying frontrunner Keiko Fujimori in a likely June run-off, was kept in the race last week after he fulfilled a series of technical requirements related to his party's registration.

But those technicalities were cited by the Special Jury of Elections, tasked with giving the green light to presidential tickets, in accepting a citizen's petition to declare his candidacy "inadmissible" on Friday, a widely unexpected move that again threatens to upend his bid.

The possibility of throwing out two leading candidates weeks ahead of April 10 elections has raised questions about how free and fair the vote will be.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-peru-election-guzman-idUSKCN0W6283

[Judi Lynn]

1. It's going to be a real shame if Keiko Fujimori wins this election.

She was completely invested in her father's brutal, sleazy administration. No doubt as President she can then get her dear old dad "sprung" from prison, where he's currently doing time.

So damned sad.