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Lima's candidates for mayor battled it out without Castañeda

(LIP-wb) -- For two hours, ten of the twelve aspiring candidates to the mayorship of Peru's capital of Lima presented their political programs and proposals in a TV debate Sunday night. The debate circled around two major subjects: the improvement of Lima's infrastructure and to improve citizen's services and security.

Despite his physical absence, current mayor of Lima Luis Castañeda participated mainly as target of severe criticism voiced by all candidates. However, a recent survey showed that Castañeda is still the heavy favorite for another term: 63% of the questioned voters said they will vote for "Lucho", whereas the next candidate, evangelic pastor Humberto Lay, only received 14% of the voters support.

Contrary to the presidential TV showdown between Alan Garcia and Ollanta Humala a few months ago, this debate actually began right on time. The moderator, journalist Rosa Maria Palacios, started with a brief introduction, followed by Pepi Patrón, chairwoman of the "Transparency" institute in charge of the encounter's organization held at the National Library.

The proposals

The refusal of Luis Castañeda to participate generated the much anticipated criticism of his adversaries who, to a certain degree, pointed to the city's many problems and deficiencies Castañeda wasn't able to take care of.

The main point of the criticism was citizen security. Gino Costa, candidate of "Somos Peru", declared his main goal is to eradicate drug trafficking and fight crime by increasing the number of police troops in the streets.

Humberto Lay, running for his "Restauracion Nacional" party, proposed the re-launching of the Citizen Security Committee, equipped with modern technology to assist the police in its challenging task.

The candidate of President Alan Garcia's "Apra" party, Benedicto Jiménez, suggested the creation of a metropolitan crime map and a metropolitan school for watchmen (Serenazgo). In addition, he said he will support the so called “Plan Spider Web” and announced the creation of offices and disciplinary centers that will respond to the problem of gangs and drug addicts.

Carmen Lozada (Sí Cumple) said she will ask for joint efforts between the city and the citizenship so that they become protagonists by its own progress. “I will manage the city with authority. I want to be the mayor of the poor and to impel development and quality of life in Lima”, she offered.

Gonzalo Garcia, candidate of Ollanta Humala's Nationalistic Party, emphasized the creation of five “provinces” in Lima: North, South, East and West, and a special corridor for the "Costa Verde", all managed by a regional government. Garcia explained he wants to spread the municipal government that has all but forgotten about Lima's peripheral areas.

The candidate of "Frepap", Teobaldo Aguilar, circled his speech around the “recovery of youth through education and automation". For that goal, he indicated, he will construct municipal technical schools “so that the young people of Lima can develop”. “With an educationally prepared youth we secure the city's future”, he stated.

Esther Garcia (Union por el Peru) also focused on education programs with the purpose of providing increased business knowledge, as well as recovering their personal values and self-esteem in schools. "I will preoccupy the city's budget by investing in our youth" she said.

Meanwhile, Martina Portocarrero (Avanza Pais) suggested declaring Lima as an emergency zone for 90 days due to contamination and air pollution, and the candidate of "Renacimiento Andino", Wilson Aragón, assured that corruption is the main source of citizen insecurity and offered to eliminate it.

A candidate who preferred not to present his own ideas in this forum for the sake of criticizing the current administration, was Gustavo Massa of "Acción Popular". His whole speech focused on the errors of mayor Castañeda. “Sometimes we must sacrifice for others”, he said at the end of his intervention at which he also informed that "for those who don't know that, yes, he has a government plan which he described as "complete, analyzed and guaranteed".

(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”.

(LIP-wb) -- Luis Castañeda Lossio, current mayor of Lima running for re-election, continues to lead voter's preferences by a wide margin. According to the last opinion poll conducted by "Apoyo", Castañeda is the favorite for winning the elections scheduled for November 19th with 69%.

Evangelical pastor Humberto Lay is in currently in second place with 14%, followed by Aprista candidate Benedicto Jiménez (7 %) and Carmen Loazada (3%).

According to the survey, Castañeda's current administration reaches an approval rate of 78%  whereas only 23% of the questioned voters disapprove.

The survey was conducted between October 18-20 among 500 residents.