Face off for future of Peru - Presidential debate sees clashes over crime, death penalty

"Monday marked the opening of Peru’s 2026 presidential debate, organised by Peru’s National Jury of Elections (JNE), bringing together 11 candidates at the Lima Convention Centre to set out proposals to tackle the country’s main challenges. With a record-breaking 36 candidates validated by the JNE, the event has been structured into multiple sessions to accommodate the crowded field. The initial discussions focused heavily on public security and the fight against organised crime, which remain the primary concerns for the country's voters. Rafael Lopez Aliaga, the candidate for Renovacion Popular and former Mayor of Lima, sparked some of the evening's most heated exchanges by proposing the construction of high-security prisons in remote jungle regions. "We are going to expel illegal foreigners before July 28 of this year. They have a short deadline to return to their beloved Venezuela, because in this country, we do not want criminals anymore," Aliaga said. This hardline stance was echoed by Carlos Alvarez Loayza of Pais para Todos, who advocated for the introduction of the death penalty for hitmen caught in the act. "We are going to confront mafias, organised crime, the corruption that protects them without fear, without half measures, without backroom deals. Whoever does it pays for it. Death penalty for hitmen caught in the act. Whoever takes a life does not deserve life," he stated. The debate also highlighted systemic reforms, with Integridad Democratica candidate Wolfgang Grozo proposing lifetime bans from public office for corrupt officials, asset confiscation, and the use of polygraph tests for senior public officials, including the president, to ensure transparency. Tensions flared when Luis Fernando Olivera of Frente de la Esperanza launched direct accusations against Grozo, questioning his credibility and sparking a verbal clash. The event forms part of a series of debates organised by the JNE, with candidates participating in groups. The first group includes Marisol Perez Tello and Jose Luna; the second, Alfonso Lopez Chau, Johnny Lezcano and Carlos Alvarez; the third, Fernando Olivera, Wolfgang Grozo and Cesar Acuna; and the fourth, Rafael Lopez Aliaga, Jose Williams and Alex Gonzalez. With such a high number of candidates, the first round of voting is scheduled for Sunday, April 12, and a potential run-off on June 7 if no candidate secures more than 50 percent of the vote."

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