Rival protests in Peru as tensions rise over presidential vote | Al Jazeera

Supporters of socialist Pedro Castillo and conservative Keiko Fujimori took to the streets by the thousands in Peru on Saturday, as tensions rose over the result of a June 6 presidential election.

Castillo, who received 50.125 percent of the vote with a difference of 44,058 ballots, has declared himself the winner.

Fujimori got 49.875 percent of the votes and has made claims of large-scale election fraud.

In Peru’s capital, Lima, supporters of Castillo gathered at the “2 de Mayo” square, calling for the left-wing candidate to be formally announced as president-elect.

Fujimori’s supporters also held a rival demonstration in a different part of the city demanding the annulment of the run-off election.

The National Jury of Elections says it is still reviewing votes and is yet to declare a winner.

“We are not going to allow them to ignore the popular will, to ignore the electoral result. We are going to defend democracy,” said Veronika Mendoza, a former leftist presidential candidate who attended the rally for Castillo....

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