Thirteen candidates for the Metropolitan Municipality of Lima gathered on Monday, September 21, 2026, at the Mario Vargas Llosa auditorium of the National Library of Peru in San Borja for the first night of municipal debates organized by the National Jury of Elections (JNE). Moderated by journalists Alicia Retto and Omar Mariluz, the event addressed citizen security, public transportation, water access, disaster prevention, and municipal management ahead of the regional and municipal elections scheduled for October 4.
The JNE divided the debates into two dates due to the large number of political organizations competing for Lima Metropolitana, with the remaining candidates scheduled to participate on Tuesday, September 22. The evening’s format featured individual presentations, direct exchanges between pairs and trios of candidates, citizen questions gathered through the “Pregúntale a tu candidat@” campaign, and a “Sin rodeos” segment requiring yes-or-no openings to specific queries.”
Security Proposals and Transport Strategies
Security and transportation dominated the exchanges among candidates during the second and third blocks of the debate. Segundo Valdez of FREPAP proposed strengthening the C5 videovigilance center under construction in Las Malvinas to connect thousands of initial cameras across Lima’s conos, alongside a rapid medical aid center and a 15% reduction in anemia with support from communal kitchens. Susel Paredes of Ahora Nación countered with her “Plan Muralla,” promising to establish an elite intelligence unit within the serenazgo during her first 30 days to fight extortion and crime, while criticizing past purchases of patrol cars and motorcycles. Paredes also stated that general Luis Olivero will join her list of regidores and coronel Walter Lozano will manage citizen management.
Carlos Bruce of Somos Perú proposed replacing the serenazgo with a Municipal Police force staffed by retired Armed Forces personnel to handle common crimes while leaving major crimes like extortion and sicariato to the National Police of Peru (PNP). Yehude Simon of Tierra Verde questioned the feasibility of eradicating insecurity entirely, proposing instead a 40% reduction in insecurity, an 80% improvement in videovigilance, and a 70% recovery of public spaces, while highlighting a municipal debt of 5 mil millones de soles tied to 58 executed works and 33 paralyzed projects.
Water Access, Infrastructure, and Education Plans
Oswaldo Vargas of Juntos por the Perú addressed the 8% of Lima’s population lacking drinking water, proposing containment walls, sewage systems, and disaster prevention projects like Huaycoloro based on his experience as mayor of Lurigancho-Chosica. Flor de María Hurtado of the Partido Demócrata Verde advocated for a mobile application for municipal digital paperwork, stricter verification of public information to alert the Public Ministry, and a modernized image for serenos as protectors rather than enforcers. Samir Quispe of Batalla Perú proposed creating the “Chavín” elite group of armed forces veterans authorized to use lethal force against threats, alongside replacing Lima’s Fiscalization Gerence with a Merchant Assessment and Formalization Gerence and introducing a mass transit cable car system.
Ricardo Belmont of the Partido Cívico Obras recalled his 1990–1995 mayoral term—highlighting the Avenida Universitaria, the Javier Prado cloverleaf, Plaza Dos de Mayo, the Santa Anita market, and the initial lighting of Cerro San Cristóbal—and stressed the importance of dignified living spaces. Victoria La Cruz of the Partido Morado questioned Belmont’s proposal to converse with criminals and instead pitched “citizen schools” linked with Apafas and Ugel to reinforce math, verbal reasoning, and civic education using artificial intelligence platforms.
Did You Know? The JNE’s debates were structured across multiple segments, including a “Sin rodeos” block that forced candidates to start specific responses with a direct “yes” or “no” before detailing their platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was the first jornada of the Lima municipal debate held?
The event took place at the Mario Vargas Llosa auditorium of the National Library of Peru in San Borja.
Who moderated the debate sessions on Monday, September 21?
The debates were conducted by journalists Alicia Retto and Omar Mariluz.
What is the date of the upcoming Regional and Municipal Elections?
The elections are scheduled for October 4.
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