Carlos Bruce warns 14 parties will boycott JNE debate

Carlos Bruce, the Somos Perú candidate for Mayor of Lima, has issued an ultimatum to the National Jury of Elections (JNE). He warned that a bloc of 14 political parties will boycott the official electoral debate if the JNE does not issue a definitive ruling regarding municipal credentials and succession rules.

The dispute centers on whether an individual serving as a first councilor can assume the mayoralty through succession, potentially bypassing constitutional prohibitions against immediate reelection. Specifically, the parties are seeking clarity on the status of Rafael López Aliaga, who is listed as the first councilor for Renovación Popular. The political groups argue that the current lack of clarity creates a “grave interpretive vacuum” that could mislead voters.

The 14 organizations have set a deadline for the JNE to provide a binding and definitive pronouncement on the matter. If the tribunal fails to respond, the parties may opt to participate only in debates organized by private media outlets rather than the official institutional event.