Peru leans to the left in presidential vote

Peru’s left-winger Ollanta Humala has claimed victory in the country’s presidential election.

With virtually all of the votes counted official results show Humala’s narrow lead over his opponent growing.

The former army commander addressed investors’ fears that his policies would end an economic boom.

“The electoral campaign is complete,” Humala said, “and on July 28 the president of all Peruvians will assume responsibility to continue the work of consolidating our economic growth. This growth will be the engine driving the social inclusion Peruvians yearn for.”

Humala toned down his anti-capitalist policies to attract the middle-of-the-road voters, but his main thrust was towards the one-third of the population who live in poverty.

His supporters were jubilant. On the streets of the capital Lima they spoke of the transformation that they hoped would now sweep the country.

Humala’s opponent, the right-winger Keiko Fujimori, had warned that he would reverse the economic boom started when her father was president in the 1990s.

But voters remembered the corruption and iron rule of Fujimori senior, and that put paid to his daughter’s chances.

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