LIMA, Peru – Ollanta Humala, a left-leaning former army officer, has emerged as frontrunner in a tight, five-candidate presidential race, according to the latest poll.

The poll, conducted from March 21 to 24, indicated Humala would receive 21.2% of the vote, a marked increase from the 15.7% he received just a week earlier, polling company CPI reported.

Humala lost to current President Alan García in the 2006 presidential election.

However, given the poll’s 2.2% margin of error, Humala is in a virtual dead heat with Keiko Fujimori – a congresswoman and daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori – who placed second with 19.9%. Former President Alejandro Toledo is third with 18.6%.

Former Economy and Prime Minister Pedro Pablo Kuczynski is fourth with 16.1%, followed by former Lima Mayor Luis Castañeda (15.5%).

The first round of the election is scheduled for April 10. If no candidate receives more than half the vote, the top two candidates will advance to a run-off election on June 5.

[The Associated Press (Peru) 27/03/2011; Terra (Peru) 27/03/2011; Radio Programs del Peru (Peru) 28/03/2011]