Peruvian candidates face scrutiny over claims and records

Political candidates in Peru are facing scrutiny regarding their professional backgrounds and the accuracy of their campaign claims. In Puno, Jesús Mamani Chijchiapaza, a candidate for the Regional Government representing the OBRAS party, has been criticized for providing inaccurate statistics. Mamani claimed that 70% of Puno's population is engaged in agriculture, whereas official INEI data indicates the sector accounts for between 50% and 53.9% of the regional active population. Additionally, his claim regarding a regional budget of 970,000 soles contradicts official records, which show an institutional opening budget for public investment of 797 million soles for the 2026 fiscal year.

In the same region, Jorge Antonio Zúñiga Pineda, a candidate for the Puno Provincial Municipality, is facing questions regarding his professional experience. Allegations suggest that documents used to claim legal advisory experience for UGEL San Román actually pertain to audiovisual production and advertising services.

In Lambayeque, four of the 15 candidates for regional governor have reported judicial sentences. These include Renato Calderón, who has 18 sentences for fraud and ideological falsehood; Rolando Barboza, with sentences related to cultural heritage and abuse of authority; Juan Rodríguez, with sentences regarding alimony; and Rubén Fernández, who was sentenced for aggravated defamation.