The Special Electoral Jury (JEE) of Lima Centro admitted for processing the challenge filed against the candidacy of Daniel Urresti for the Mayor of Lima for the party Podemos Perú, within the framework of the 2026 regional and municipal elections.
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According to Resolution No. 05087-2026-JEE-LICN/JNE, the challenge was filed by citizen Genoveva Mundaca Chávez, who questions Urresti Elera’s candidacy alleging alleged violations of the Political Constitution, the Law of Political Organizations, the Electoral Regulations of the political organization, and the rules governing internal democracy.
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“Likewise, it is verified that she attaches the evidentiary means that support her claim and the receipt of payment of the corresponding electoral fee”, indicated the collegiate in the document, dated August 2.
Therefore, it decided to forward the challenge document and its annexes to the legal representative of Podemos Perú, so that, within a period of one day, counted from the day after the notification of this resolution, they present the pertinent defenses.
The defenses of Podemos Perú
Last Monday, August 3, the legal representative of Podemos Perú presented the defenses stating that at no time did Daniel Urresti hide information; on the contrary, “relying on the principle of maximum electoral transparency”, he decided to include the annulled sentence against him by the Constitutional Court (TC).
“Therefore, at the time of closing the DJHV, the candidate did not have any current penalty or conviction, being legally exempt from declaring a resolution that was declared null and void and left without legal effect by constitutional mandate”, he added.
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As recalled, last February the TC declared null the 12-year prison sentence imposed on the former Minister of the Interior for the murder of journalist Hugo Bustíos and ordered his immediate release.
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Urresti Elera had been convicted of murder under the aggravated circumstance of treachery for the extrajudicial execution of Bustíos Saavedra, which occurred on November 24, 1988.
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The legal representative of Podemos Perú also stated that regarding the complaint filed by Rodrigo Pelagio Prada Vargas against Urresti, a resolution from the 17th Criminal Court for Free Defendants declares that the sentence has been served, civil reparation paid, and the candidate rehabilitated.
“For which reason he is formally rehabilitated years ago, the sentence does not generate any impediment, according to the Organic Law of Elections (Law No. 26859) and the Municipal Elections Law (Law No. 26864). Therefore, listing said sentence as ‘rehabilitated’ in the DJHV does not constitute omission or falsehood”, he emphasized.
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Therefore, the legal representative of Podemos Perú emphasized that the arguments presented by Genoveva Mundaca Chávez are “totally false”, since, from his point of view, “there is no factual or legal basis that prevents the candidacy of Daniel Belizario Urresti Elera”.
“For these reasons, it is respectfully requested that the filed challenge be dismissed and, in due course, declared unfounded in all its aspects, ordering the continuation of the candidacy in the present electoral process”, he concluded.
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