MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Castillo and Fujimori hold first presidential debate leading to Peru's runoff

Both candidates donned nationalistic attire.

The presidential debate between both runoff candidates, one of whom will become Peru's new president on June 6, took place Saturday in the North Andean city of Chota.

There were no statements in the press or elsewhere to whom might have won.

The venue was the native town of Peru Libre's Pedro Castillo and in return, the conservative Keiko Fujimori claimed she had the right to pick the time of day.

But doubts were shadowing the debate after Castillo had been hospitalized Friday with a respiratory ailment, of which he sounded fully recovered.

Fujimori was late for the date, claiming she had had to travel over 11 hours to reach that remote town. “I have had to travel here,” she said during the event which was hosted by the mayor of Chota himself.

She was vociferous about state subsidies for those who have lost a dear one to covid-19, while Castillo spoke in a calmer tone calling for his fellow citizens of Chota to stand by him against oppression.

Both candidates donned nationalistic attire. Castillo was wearing his traditional campaign shirt and jacket while Fujimori preferred a jersey from the national football team.

Interior Minister José Elice reported that about 200 police officers have been deployed in Chota for the debate in addition to patrols on roads linking Chota to Chiclayo and Cajamarca to guarantee Fujimori's safety and that of her followers.

No major incidents have been reported.