Arequipa candidates decline to participate in regional electoral debates

Several candidates for the Arequipa Regional Government have declined to participate in an electoral debate organized by the Colegio de Periodistas and the Colegio de Abogados de Arequipa. Among those who will not attend are Elmer Cáceres Llica, Alfredo Zegarra Tejada, and Benigno Cornejo Valencia, some of whom appear high in recent preference polls.

Gisella Vilca, dean of the journalists' professional order, expressed regret over the decision. The absence of Cáceres Llica was attributed to a scheduled campaign trip, while the reasons for the withdrawal of Zegarra Tejada and Cornejo Valencia were not detailed by their respective teams.

The debate also saw absences in the race for the Provincial Municipality of Arequipa, with Manuel Vera Paredes, Rucci Oscu Pular, and Tomás Delgado Zúñiga confirmed as non-participants. Despite these withdrawals, the event will proceed with the remaining candidates to sign a commitment letter aimed at increasing transparency regarding their proposals.