Peruvian electoral authority confirms it will appoint socialist Castillo as next president

LIMA, July 19 (Reuters) – Peru’s electoral authority on Monday announced it would appoint socialist Pedro Castillo as the country’s next president, calling him “president-elect” in a statement sent to reporters announcing that the ceremony would take place in 7:00 p.m. (24:00 GMT). ).

Right-wing presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori admitted she was heading for defeat, but vowed to mobilize her supporters and lambasted Castillo for having won “illegitimately”.

Castillo came out of the second round of the June 6 poll with a margin of 44,000 votes. The official result was delayed by calls from Fujimori to overturn some polls on fraud charges, despite little evidence.

Fujimori said she was required by law to recognize the official election result.

“I will recognize the results because that is what the law and the constitution that I have sworn to uphold, mandates. The truth is going to come out anyway,” she told reporters.

The national election jury said earlier Monday it had rejected the latest appeals from Fujimori, a conservative who is the daughter of jailed former president Alberto Fujimori.

“They stole thousands of votes from us,” Fujimori said at a press conference. She called on her supporters to protest.

“We have the right to mobilize … but in a peaceful manner and within the framework of the law,” she said.

The Organization of American States, the European Union and Britain all said the election was clean.

Castillo is expected to take office on July 28 for a five-year term as leader of the world’s second-largest copper-producing country.

A 51-year-old former schoolteacher and son of peasants, Castillo has pledged to overhaul the constitution and raise taxes on mining companies, but in recent weeks has softened his rhetoric and hinted at a more moderate, more market-friendly approach. .

Report by Marco Aquino; Written by Hugh Bronstein and Adam Jourdan; Editing by Rosalba O’Brien

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