MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Peruvian presidential candidates debate next Sunday

The two Peruvian presidential candidates have agreed to an hour long television debate next Sunday.

Ultra nationalist and ex Army officer Ollanta Humala and former president Alan Garcia will be clashing two weeks before the June 4 runoff with an agenda that includes five main chapters: governance and human rights; economic policy and fighting poverty; social and anti corruption policies; decentralization and public security. A sixth issue will be of free choice for each of the candidates.

Acting as moderator will be journalist and political analyst Augusto Alvarez Rodrich. Editor of the Lima newspaper "Peru 21" he has been critical of both candidates to the extent that Mr. Garcia accuses him of having a personal ill will against him.

However both candidates' teams agreed on the television debate following on insistent public opinion polls showing that 90% of Peruvians would like to see them, face to face, exposing their ideas and programs.

A majority of analysts agree that Mr. Garcia is a more articulate speaker; more charismatic with greater self control, scenic acting and argument solidity, but he could be hindered by the pre-concept he will come easily ahead.

"And if not he could be seen as a looser". However analysts also agree that there will be no "decisive victory" next Sunday and that the debate won't have much influence on the final voting.

Mr. Garcia currently has a ten points lead over Mr. Humala.