Lima - April/09/2006
Like expected before: No one of the three favorites Ollanta, Alan and Lourdes was able to win the presidential elections in Peru in the first attempt. Not even the extensive use of nature was able to help!

Even weeks before today the elections were met with critisism and the general information about the candidats was reviewed inadequate by the population.

Original comment of a guide at the ruins of Pachacamac: "I don't think that the elections will cause a fundamental change in Peru. There came lots of new presidents in the past, they just made the quick money and disappered fast again."

We questioned the number of candidates which contest the election but the guide was not able to give a precise number: "I think there are about 45 candidates, but who knows?"
A taxidriver in Lima was sure: "There are 21 candidates!"
But this slight uncertainty in the statements was not able to stop the enthusiasm!

The main slogans were:
    Water for everyone!
    Work for everyone!
    Health for everyone!
    No more corruption!
Which candidate goes for which slogan: "Who knows?" this was the most given answer by the people we were able to ask before the election. And ... not everyone was really interessted in the election!

To really impress the population the candidates used the well known devices of the last hustings: presence and sound volume!
Presence by visiting as many different regions of the country as possible and by an incredible amount of demonstrations.

and 'paintings', even in the most lonesome parts of the country.

The use of sound volume mainly by cars as moving advertisements and lots of election campaign offices in many cities.

But quality and mainly understandability was really miserable, because of the aged equipment. So at the end: No one did understand anything!

Anyway the ONPE (Oficina National de procesos electorales) and its slogan: "We make, that your vote counts!" made it possible, that there were enough polling stations for the population and that the election could take place as planned.

The responsibles assume, that the run-off ballot will take place as successful as the actual elections and that there will be a clear winner! But: Who knows??

tkr