(Lima) Ultra-conservative businessman Rafael Lopez Aliaga, nicknamed the “Peruvian Bolsonaro”, is leading the race for mayor of Lima ahead of retired general Daniel Urresti, according to official results Monday from the count. 97% of the votes.
Posted yesterday at 11:05 p.m.
Peruvians voted on Sunday to elect their mayors and governors.
Lopez Aliaga, 61, obtained 23.58% of the vote, according to the latest results presented by the Electoral Commission (ONPE), thus overtaking Daniel Urresti (22.76%), who, on Sunday evening, led the race according to results partials.
“The triumph of Lopez Aliaga is certain […]the trend is irreversible,” political analyst Fernando Tuesta said on Twitter.
Single, Lopez Aliaga – “Porky” for his supporters and nicknamed “Bolsonaro” after the revelation of his membership in Opus Dei -, had presented himself as well as Daniel Urresti in the presidential election of 2021, won by the current head of state Pedro Castillo.
For his part, Mr Urresti said on Monday that he accepted the official result.
Some 25 million Peruvians were called to the polls on Sunday to appoint 25 regional governors, 196 provincial mayors and 1,694 mayors. Voting is compulsory in Peru.
Lima has been rocked by corruption scandals, with former mayors Susana Villaran (2011-2014) and Luis Castaneda (2003-2010 and 2014-2018) taken into protective custody in connection with the bribery scandal involving the Brazilian construction group Odebrecht.
For his part, Mayor Jorge Munoz, whose mandate was due to expire in December 2022, was removed from office in April for having combined the functions of mayor and those of director of the national drinking water company.