Simeon Tegel

She is promising to build maximum security prisons and send the army into the streets.

Sanchez, a member of that Congress, plans to nationalize large chunks of the economy and curb imports.

The tightly contested election is expected to be decided by the unusually high number of undecided voters, who are dissatisfied with both candidates.

For NPR News, I'm Simeon Tegel in Lima, Peru.

For the third time in the last four elections, Peruvians face a polarizing choice of presidential candidates.

Far-right candidate Keiko Fujimori or a far-left opponent, Roberto Sanchez.

The election comes after years of political chaos, runaway corruption and rising street crime.

Many voters blame the outgoing scandal-wracked Congress, dominated by Keiko's Popular Force Party.

She is promising to build maximum security prisons and send the army into the streets.

Sanchez, a member of that Congress, plans to nationalize large chunks of the economy and curb imports.

The tightly contested election is expected to be decided by the unusually high number of undecided voters, who are dissatisfied with both candidates.

For NPR News, I'm Simeon Tegel in Lima, Peru.

Pedro Castillo smiled as the judge read out his sentence.

Eleven years and five months for his attempt to save his scandal-wracked leftist administration by unconstitutionally shuttering the Congress and courts.

His conviction comes a day after another former president, centrist Martin Vizcarra, was handed a 14-year term after being found guilty of taking kickbacks.

Meanwhile, Peru's democratic meltdown continues.

Lawmakers, dozens of whom are under investigation for corruption and have been accused of favouring organised crime, are on the cusp of ousting the country's chief prosecutor.

For NPR News, I'm Simeon Tegel in Lima.