Pedro Castillo, a self confessed socialist will be inaugurated next week as Peru’s new president.

The 51-year-old union leader has vowed to rewrite the country’s constitution in order to nationalise copper mines and earmark more money for social welfare programmes.

Having reported the highest number of COVID-19 deaths per capita, Peru is the worst victim of the coronavirus pandemic. Castillo faces the daunting task of vaccinating millions of people quickly, as there is a looming fear that a third wave of the pandemic is just around the corner.

Challenges with low vaccinations

With barely 12 per cent of the country’s 32 million people fully vaccinated, Peru is clearly far from achieving herd immunity. Furthermore, the pandemic pushed 10 per cent of its population back into poverty.

However, in his victory speech, Castillo spoke more about politics than the pandemic. “We are not going to rob a single cent from the Peruvian people” the president-elect, who was a school teacher and peasant until a few years ago declared to rousing applause.

Peru has long been plagued by corruption scandals and cronyism. Five of its former presidents are under criminal investigation.

Another former president, Alberto Fujimori, the father of Castillo’s rival Keiko Fujimori, is serving a jail sentence, while his predecessor is fighting extradition from the United States.

Analysts told Nearshore Americas that Castillo lacks experience and support in Congress to fulfil his campaign promises.