Peruvian Senator-elect Rafael López Aliaga's Refusal Sparks Legal Debate

Rafael López Aliaga, elected to the Peruvian Senate in the 2026 elections, chose not to assume the seat. The National Jury of Elections (JNE) subsequently authorised the appointment of a replacement, prompting constitutional lawyer María Antonieta González to denounce the move as a "fraud to the law" and warn of a dangerous precedent that could undermine voter representation.

González criticised the procedural handling, arguing that the Congress should first declare the vacancy before the JNE calls a substitute, as historically practiced. She highlighted gaps in current legislation regarding candidates who decline to take office, stating that such loopholes erode democratic legitimacy and citizens' trust in electoral institutions.