Garcia the ‘lesser of two evils’ in Peruvian presidential race

AT 6ft 3in, former Peruvian president Alan Garcia strikes an imposing figure in his bid for re-election. But he also casts a long shadow of dark memories.

To Maria Teresa Chavez, a 46-year-old housewife, Garcia’s 1985-90 administration was a time when she would stand in line for hours, shopping basket stuffed with wads of devalued currency, to buy two pounds of sugar and a can of milk for her children’s breakfast.

Raul Zegarra, 55, a clothing vendor, remembers car bombs that terrified his children and constant blackouts from rebel attacks on Lima’s electrical grid.