Garcia and Humala square off in race for Peruvian presidency

Jun 3, 2006, 3:05 GMT

Buenos Aires - Voters in Peru will go to the polls Sunday to determine if Social Democrat Alan Garcia or authoritarian nationalist Ollanta Humala will become the country's next president.

The run-off election features a choice between a former unpopular president in Garcia, and Humala, who is feared by Peru's middle and upper classes.

Polls indicate that the race is 57-year-old Garcia's to lose, though Humala gained the most votes in the first round of elections in April.

Despite a disastrous term in office from 1985 to 1990, observers believe Garcia will win Sunday's election with a solid majority.

While Humala, 43, has support among the lower class, his campaign is eyed with suspicion among the upper and middle class. Humala, who has never held elected office, has sought to stir up the anger of poor Peruvians for the upper class. Observers say Humala was also hurt by an endorsement from Venezuelan nationalist President Hugo Chavez.

That leaves Garcia, who presided over a shrinking economy and runaway inflation during his first stint in office, on the verge of getting a second chance.

The Social Democrat candidate has also likely benefited more from supporters of conservative candidate Lourdes Flores, who was edged out by Garcia for second place in April's first round.