MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Ultra nationalist leads in Peruvian presidential race

Peruvian former army officer Ollanta Humala, campaigning on an ultra nationalist populist ticket, has retaken the lead against conservative lawyer Lourdes Flores in Peru's presidential race, according to a public opinion poll released Sunday.

The Apoyo Opinion y Mercado survey, published in Lima's most influential daily El Comerico shows Humala with 32%, two points increase over a March 12 poll and 7 points since early February. Ms Flores, who would be Peru's first woman president if elected and is viewed by international investors as the best choice for the economy, saw her support drop 3 points to 28% compared with the March 12 poll.

Humala, a retired army commander who is most popular among Peru's poor, has the backing of leftist Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and led polls in early January. But he lost ground after claims of human rights abuses in the 1990s when he was combating guerrillas in the Andes highlands.

"Humala's support has risen thanks to those who just a short time ago said they would scratch their vote or did not know who to vote for" Apoyo's Director Alfredo Torres said in El Comercio. The poll also found 32% of potential voters had yet to decide whom they would vote for in the election, down from 41% on March 12.

Former center-left President Alan Garcia, who is targeting younger voters, remained in third place with 21% voter support, a 1 point slip from earlier this month. Garcia from the long established APRA party and who presided over economic chaos and rising Shining Path rebel violence during his 1985-1990 presidency, has won back support as a charismatic moderate.

Flores is most popular among Peru's small middle class and has the support of the country's business leaders and Catholic Church. Humala has pledged to enforce state control of Peru's key mining and gas output. He also is questioning what he describes as Chile's "re-arming", including the latest acquisition of "100 Leopard 2 tanks".

"Chile has long broken the strategic military balance in the region. If they really want a fraternal relation with Peru and Bolivia, then President Bachelet should tell us why that long arms shopping list", he said. Candidate Humala has also promised to review Lan's contract "which has become a monopoly in Peru", and promised the creation of a Peruvian "joint government-private air carrier to force rates down".

Many Peruvian voters are disillusioned with traditional politicians who have failed to provide jobs and prosperity despite the country's strong economic performance since 2002.

However, since no candidate is expected to reach 50% by April 9, a run off in May is forecasted with both leading candidates technically tied.

The poll surveyed 2,000 people, March 15/17 over the age of 18 with an error margin of plus minus 2.2 points.