Living in Peru : your everyday companion

(LIP-wb) -- After Luis Castañeda Losso, current mayor of Lima and running for re-election, refused to participate in a much anticipated TV debate next Sunday, he is strongly criticized by his opponents.

Castañeda is the heavy favorite for receiving another term in the municipal elections held on November 19, according to surveys.

Political challenger Gonzalo Garcia Núñez, candidate of Ollanta Humala's Peruvian Nationalistic Party (PNP), was most verbal by calling him the “proud, haughty and peacocky” mayor. He recommended Castañeda to consider taking “some valium or xanax” to recover his calm and serenity.

He said that instead of resorting insults, the mayor should confront his political program with the other candidates because this is what the people of Peru's capital want.

Other candidates like Gino Costa (Somos Peru), and Humberto Lay (Restauracion Nacional) chimed in on the criticism.

Costa said that all parties have unanimously agreed on the TV debate, including the representatives of "Unidad Nacional", the mayor's party.

“First they accepted to debate on November 5th, and now they changed their minds?” Coast asked.

Humberto Lay not only described the decision of Castañeda Losso as "inappropriate", he also considered that he “kicked the chess board" to follow his own rules and agenda.

APRA candidate Benedicto Jiménez accused Castañeda of trying to protract the debate indefinitely because he prefers not to respond to accusations of corruption.

Gustavo Massa (Accion Popular) assured he will be the 11th candidate to participate in the debate because “Lima is not just Mr. Castañeda”.