Pubdate: Mon, 21 May 2001
Source: San Diego Union Tribune (CA)
Copyright: 2001 Union-Tribune Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.uniontrib.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/386
Author: Rick Vecchio, Associated Press

PERU CANDIDATES SWAP BARBS DURING DEBATE

LIMA, Peru -- In the only scheduled debate before Peru's presidential 
runoff next month, front-runner Alejandro Toledo focused on former 
President Alan Garcia's disastrous term in office and Garcia accused Toledo 
of using cocaine.

The televised exchange Saturday night offered Peruvians a chance to see how 
Toledo, widely viewed as erratic and prone to contradict himself, measured 
up against Garcia, who is considered one of Latin America's great orators 
but whose 1985-90 term ended with the country in economic ruin.

Polls show deep dissatisfaction with both candidates: More than 30 percent 
of the country's nearly 15 million voters say they plan to cast spoiled or 
blank ballots as a protest in the June 3 runoff.

Polls indicate Toledo, 55, will win about 60 percent of the vote. He got 
the most votes in the April 8 election, but fell short of the 50 percent 
mark, forcing the runoff with second-place candidate Garcia, 51.

Public opinion analyst Giovana Penaflor called the debate "practically a 
tie" and said it was unlikely to have a dramatic effect on the outcome of 
the vote.

The debate started with both candidates sticking to the central issue on 
the minds of Peruvians -- a turnaround for the country's moribund economy 
- -- but soon heated up into an exchange of personal attacks.

Toledo said Garcia is remembered for leaving office amid rampant 
corruption, surging rebel violence, food shortages and hyperinflation.

Garcia returned to Peru in January after charges that he collected 
kickbacks totaling several million dollars expired following nearly nine 
years in exile.

"Mr. Garcia, it is inconceivable that you speak of human rights, the 
struggle against corruption, against narcotics trafficking, when you have 
unresolved charges," Toledo said. "Money was robbed."

Garcia fired back, repeating allegations that Toledo tested positive for 
cocaine use after an extramarital hotel rendezvous with three women in 1998.

"Nobody has shown me to be a consumer of cocaine," Garcia said. "A cocaine 
consumer cannot be the leader of a country."

Toledo has said he was drugged and kidnapped by agents of former President 
Alberto Fujimori and possibly filmed in a sexually compromising situation.
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