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LIMA, April 4 | Mon Apr 4, 2011 11:50am EDT LIMA, April 4 (Reuters) - A tight presidential election, drug violence, strikes by miners and environmental disputes are all points to watch in Peru -- one of the world's fastest-growing economies. HUMALA LEADS POLLS Left-wing nationalist Ollanta Humala has emerged as the front-runner for the April 10 presidential election. He has struck a more moderate tone and promised investors he would prudently manage the economy despite his radical past. Humala has between 27 and 28 percent of voter support in the most recent polls, putting him between seven and 10 points in front of three more market-friendly rivals. [ID:nPOLLSPE] Former President Alejandro Toledo, lawmaker Keiko Fujimori and Former Prime Minister Pedro Pablo Kuczynski are nearly tied for second place in Peru, where the economy is forecast to grow 7 percent this year after surging 9 percent last year. One of those candidates will likely face Humala in a run-off election on June 5 since no candidate is projected to win a majority of votes on Sunday. Humala won the first round in the 2006 race but lost a run-off to President Alan Garcia, who cannot run again. Polls are split over whether Humala would lose this year's run-off or have a strong chance of winning the presidency. To improve his odds in the second round, Humala has tried to recast himself as a political moderate by promising to keep inflation low and stick to sound fiscal policies. He has also started wearing suits and calling himself a devout Roman Catholic to appeal to more centrist voters. But local financial markets have been volatile in recent days on worries he would pursue a statist economic agenda that would hurt foreign investment, especially in the country's vast mining sector. .IGRAPEN=PE Analysts have said his Nationalist Party would have few seats in Congress, hindering its ability to push big changes through the legislature. Toledo is well-liked by the business community and led Peru's first push into free trade pacts during his 2001-2006 term. [ID:nN28153012] Keiko Fujimori, a popular conservative lawmaker, could benefit from a sizable party infrastructure left behind by her father, former President Alberto Fujimori. But her candidacy may be hurt by memories Peruvians have of her father, who was forced from office under a cloud of corruption and human rights scandals. Kuczynski, a former Wall Street banker, has made inroads in the race by chipping away at support for Toledo, among other candidates. Peru's economy is set to grow about 7 percent in 2011 after surging 8.8 percent last year. Orthodox economic policies have been in place in Peru for nearly two decades and helped Peru win investment grade ratings. [ID:nN23249523]
LIMA, April 4 | Mon Apr 4, 2011 11:50am EDT
LIMA, April 4 (Reuters) - A tight presidential election, drug violence, strikes by miners and environmental disputes are all points to watch in Peru -- one of the world's fastest-growing economies.
HUMALA LEADS POLLS
Left-wing nationalist Ollanta Humala has emerged as the front-runner for the April 10 presidential election. He has struck a more moderate tone and promised investors he would prudently manage the economy despite his radical past.
Humala has between 27 and 28 percent of voter support in the most recent polls, putting him between seven and 10 points in front of three more market-friendly rivals. [ID:nPOLLSPE]
Former President Alejandro Toledo, lawmaker Keiko Fujimori and Former Prime Minister Pedro Pablo Kuczynski are nearly tied for second place in Peru, where the economy is forecast to grow 7 percent this year after surging 9 percent last year.
One of those candidates will likely face Humala in a run-off election on June 5 since no candidate is projected to win a majority of votes on Sunday. Humala won the first round in the 2006 race but lost a run-off to President Alan Garcia, who cannot run again.
Polls are split over whether Humala would lose this year's run-off or have a strong chance of winning the presidency.
To improve his odds in the second round, Humala has tried to recast himself as a political moderate by promising to keep inflation low and stick to sound fiscal policies. He has also started wearing suits and calling himself a devout Roman Catholic to appeal to more centrist voters.
But local financial markets have been volatile in recent days on worries he would pursue a statist economic agenda that would hurt foreign investment, especially in the country's vast mining sector. .IGRAPEN=PE
Analysts have said his Nationalist Party would have few seats in Congress, hindering its ability to push big changes through the legislature.
Toledo is well-liked by the business community and led Peru's first push into free trade pacts during his 2001-2006 term. [ID:nN28153012]
Keiko Fujimori, a popular conservative lawmaker, could benefit from a sizable party infrastructure left behind by her father, former President Alberto Fujimori. But her candidacy may be hurt by memories Peruvians have of her father, who was forced from office under a cloud of corruption and human rights scandals.
Kuczynski, a former Wall Street banker, has made inroads in the race by chipping away at support for Toledo, among other candidates.
Peru's economy is set to grow about 7 percent in 2011 after surging 8.8 percent last year. Orthodox economic policies have been in place in Peru for nearly two decades and helped Peru win investment grade ratings. [ID:nN23249523]
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