FACTBOX-Key political risks to watch in Peru By Terry Wade and Caroline Stauffer LIMA, July 5 (Reuters) - Investors will be closely watching left-wing president-elect Ollanta Humala when he takes power on July 28 to see if he will respect private investment or roll back years of free-market reforms. Humala, who has never held office before and shed his radical image during the campaign, will face a growing illegal drug trade, strikes by miners, and environmental disputes that could hurt one of the world's fastest-growing economies. HUMALA'S VICTORY The election left a deeply divided country as 48.5 percent of voters and most of the business class voted for right-wing candidate Keiko Fujimori. But a poll from Ipsos Apoyo on June 19 gave Humala a 70 percent approval rate and said most Peruvians believe he will govern as a moderate, suggesting reconciliation is possible. Humala made numerous changes to his platform during the campaign to win over moderate voters, including dropping a call to renegotiate free-trade agreements and replace a privately-run pension system with one run by the government. Skeptics are awaiting cabinet appointments, expected in the first week of July, to gauge Humala's declared intention to govern from the center. He is expected to reward former President Alejandro Toledo's party for endorsing him in the second round of the election by naming technocrats from Toledo's cabinet team to head the finance ministry and other key ministries. Still, some investors fear Humala will gradually tighten control over the economy and hurt foreign investment, especially in Peru's vast mining sector. Before the election, those fears caused real estate buyers, lenders and builders to pause and postpone projects, triggering a moderate deceleration in second quarter economic growth. No party will have a majority in Congress, which will limit Humala's scope for more drastic reforms. To fund social programs, Humala favors higher taxes on mining companies that are enjoying windfall profits thanks to high global commodities prices. He told Reuters that he plans to consult mining firms about the tax rate, taking into account their profit margins. Orthodox economic policies have been in place in Peru for nearly two decades, helping it achieve investment-grade ratings. All three major ratings agencies have said Humala's victory did not put Peru's credit rating at risk. But a weak state and ineffective social programs have left a third of Peruvians mired in poverty, especially in the Andes mountains and Amazon basin. What to watch for:
SOCIAL CONFLICT Hundreds of millions of dollars in capital spending have faced delays that could also hold up some $50 billion in mostly foreign investment lined up for projects over the next decade. Outgoing President Alan Garcia's push to draw foreign investors to open new mines has angered environmental and indigenous groups, which are becoming increasingly assertive. On June 25, Garcia's cabinet revoked the license of Canadian mining firm Bear Creek in a bid to persuade mostly indigenous protesters in the southeastern region of Puno to end a month of anti-mining demonstrations. Another protest nearby left five dead after locals opposed to extractive industries took over the Juliaca airport. The company has said it would sue the government to regain its license and analysts have warned the government the unilateral measure could discourage investment in the sector. Humala supports a law that requires companies to win the consent of indigenous groups before projects are developed on their lands, which human rights groups say could help mitigate such conflicts. Garcia vetoed a version of the law. What to watch for:
DRUGS TRADE, SHINING PATH REBELS At least 50 soldiers or anti-drug police have been killed in the VRAE and other jungle areas controlled by Shining Path in the last two years. The group's Maoist leaders were captured in the early 1990s after waging a brutal war against the state. Corruption in Peru's army and political system could be hindering drug enforcement efforts, according to a U.S. diplomatic cable released by WikiLeaks that Peruvian officials have denied. Garcia has said the United States must boost anti-drug aid to Peru, which receives far less than Colombia. More deaths or clashes could prompt Humala to overhaul anti-drug policies in Peru, the world's No. 1 coca producer. Humala has said he hopes to cooperate with the United States to curb drug trafficking, but some members of his Nationalist Party were voted into seats in Congress on slates that defend coca growers -- potentially limiting his political options. Coca growers say they grow the leaf for traditional uses in food and teas, but drug experts say 90 percent is processed into cocaine. What to watch for:
(Reporting by Terry Wade and Caroline Stauffer; Editing by Kieran Murray)
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