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Peru's Nationwide Electoral Restrictions in Effect, Leading Up to General
Elections

VOA News

   Nationwide electoral restrictions are now in effect in Peru, leading up
   to Sunday's general elections.

   The National Elections Board said media outlets face fines upto$118,900
   if they violate a ban ondisseminatingor publishing voting intention
   surveys, according to the state run Andina News Agency.

   On Thursday, the last day candidatesare allowed tocampaign, anyone
   holding political meetings or demonstrations could face jail time from
   three months to two years.
   Popular Action party presidential candidate Yonhy Lescano dances while
   campaigning at the Caqueta market in Lima, Peru, April 5, 2021.

   Candidates or their supporters will not be allowed toparticipatein any
   type of political messaging, including interviews, starting on Friday.

   Violators face a fineno greater than $118,900 and a prison sentence of
   at least two years.

   Voters are heading to the polls Sunday to choose the country's next
   president and congressional representatives, with Peru still struggling
   to control the spread of COVID-19 virus, which has killedjust
   under52,877 people, according to Johns Hopkins UniversityCovidResource
   Center.

   Presidential candidate George Forsyth of the National Victory party
   announced Sunday that he contracted COVID-19 while campaigning.

   Forsythsaid in a video message that after four days he was feeling a
   bit beaten, theAssociated Pressreported.

   The latest polls show Forsyth is second onlytoYonhyLescanoof the
   Popular Action party in the field of 18candidates.

   The winner of Sunday's elections,will replace President
   FranciscoSagasti, who took office after his predecessor, Martin
   Vizcarra, was impeached during an investigation on corruption
   allegations.

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