Hello! This week, we look ahead to two crucial elections in Peru and Mexico — each significant for different reasons. And we explore the phenomenon of vaccine tourism in Latin America, separating the region’s haves and have-nots even further.
Peru’s polarized election still up for grabs
The far-left v. far-right Peruvian presidential election has never been so close. The latest polls came on Sunday, showing schoolteacher and trade unionist Pedro Castillo and Keiko Fujimori — daughter of former dictator Alberto Fujimori — statistically tied. Both Ipsos and Datum had Mr. Castillo in the lead by slim margins — 51-49 and 43-42, respectively.
- The case for Castillo: While Ms. Fujimori has dragged herself into striking distance, the union leader has consistently kept himself ahead. Moreover, some polls show that one-quarter of right-leaning Peruvians will vote for the left-wing candidate.
- The case for Fujimori: We always say that polls are not accurate snapshots of voters’ preferences, but can reliably point to trends we could see in the ballots. In that sense, Ms. Fujimori’s polling curves are far more encouraging than Mr. Castillo’s.
Why it matters. The election comes after years of political turmoil, and a close finish should only add fuel...