LIMA: A far-left union leader and teacher has taken a surprise, though slim, lead in Peru’s presidential election, and will likely face a rightwing rival in a runoff in June, incomplete results showed on Monday (Tuesday in Manila). With nearly 90 percent of ballots counted by Monday evening, leftist Pedro Castillo was in the lead with 18.83 percent — much higher than predicted by opinion polls which had not even placed him in the top five. He will likely square off on June 6 against corruption-accused Keiko Fujimori, a rightwing populist who has 13.21 percent, according to results released by the ONPE electoral office. It will be Fujimori’s third shot at the top job.
