Rural teacher-turned-political novice Pedro Castillo became the winner of Peru’s presidential election after the country’s longest electoral count in 40 years (Martin Mejia/AP)Rural teacher-turned-political novice Pedro Castillo became the winner of Peru’s presidential election after the country’s longest electoral count in 40 years. Electoral authorities on Monday released the final official results more than a month after the run-off election took place in the South American nation. Expand Close Pedro Castillo celebrated after winning Peru’s longest electoral count in 40 years (Guadalupe Prado/AP) / FacebookTwitterEmailWhatsapp Pedro Castillo celebrated after winning Peru’s longest electoral count in 40 years (Guadalupe Prado/AP)Mr Castillo’s supporters included Peru’s poor and rural citizens, with the new leader known for popularising the phrase ‘No more poor in a rich country’. Peru is the world’s second-largest copper producer but its economy has been crushed by the coronavirus pandemic. The poverty level has increased to almost one-third of the population, eliminating the gains of a decade.

Source: Irish Independent July 20, 2021 02:03 UTC