LIMA, Peru (AP) 鈥� Peruvian shamans gathered on Monday for a blessing ritual for the two candidates next weekend, a decisive vote for the South American country that has seen a revolving door of presidents kicked out of office over corruption scandals.
The ritual is a tradition at the start of every year and before elections.
The shamans gathered by the sea on Herradura Beach in the Chorrillos district in Lima, Peru’s capital, holding up posters of the two candidates.
The two 鈥� , the conservative daughter of , and Roberto S谩nchez, a nationalist congressman and former minister 鈥� are neck and neck in the polls and will face off on Sunday.
Fujimori garnered just over 17% of the votes while S谩nchez got about 12% in a crowded field of candidates in the first round of voting in April. That round was mired in logistical problems that left thousands in Peru and abroad unable to cast ballots. It then took weeks for the country鈥檚 electoral body to finalize the two contenders for the runoff.
In the blessing ritual, the shamans used flower petals, fruit, coca leaves and fragrant pieces of palo santo 鈥� or 鈥渉oly wood鈥� in Spanish 鈥� as well as black tobacco, swords and dolls. They also lit colorful flares and banged drums.
鈥淭he ritual we perform is primarily intended to ensure that the best candidate is the one who represents our Peru,鈥� said shaman Andr茅s de los Santos, who had traveled to Lima from the north of the country.
Although the shamans made no forecasts this time, they have previously predicted the future. At the end of 2025, they predicted Venezuela’s then-President Nicol谩s Maduro, now facing drug trafficking charges in the United States, would .
The winner of the runoff will become Peru鈥檚 , replacing , who was elected interim president in February. Balc谩zar replaced another interim leader, Jos茅 Jer铆, who was just four months into his term.
Peru’s next president will be sworn in on July 28 for a five-year term.
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