National Elections Jury president Roberto Burneo warned that local political authorities are using strategic candidate list placements to retain power despite immediate reelection bans. Burneo addressed the situation following the resignation of Luis Rubio from the Renovación Popular candidacy for mayor of Lima, which occurred one day before candidate registration closed.
The resignation leaves former Lima mayor Rafael López Aliaga, who previously stepped down to contest the 2026 general elections, as the first alderman on the party ticket he leads. If Renovación Popular wins the municipal election, López Aliaga could take office as mayor of the capital once again.
Speaking on RPP, Burneo specified that López Aliaga remaining on the candidate list does not break any current electoral laws. The magistrate did not classify the candidate placement as an irregularity, but instead called for a broader debate on whether the immediate reelection prohibition should remain in its present form. He added that his criticism targets the structural design of the law rather than any specific political group.
Electoral rules and candidate list succession
Burneo urged Peruvian voters to review the full candidate list rather than focusing only on the individual heading the ballot. Under current electoral regulations, if an elected candidate resigns or faces vacancy, another member of the same candidate list assumes the executive post. Every person included on a ballot therefore holds a real possibility of governing.
Burneo said citizens must examine every candidate on a list because any member could eventually become mayor if the top candidate leaves office or is removed through vacancy procedures. He noted that several regional and municipal tickets this year include former mayors, members of congress, and other prominent political figures in secondary positions. Burneo stated that evaluating these political trajectories provides voters with their most direct defense against strategic maneuvers.
Proposed reform of subnational reelection rules
Burneo proposed a constitutional reform to permit a degree of continuity for local authorities, arguing that district management requires administrative experience that current regulations block. He stated that political figures are creating strategies to circumvent the law and enter office through secondary positions. Burneo added that municipal administrators need longer tenure to properly organize local jurisdictions, making the complete elimination of subnational reelection a mistake.
Existing electoral rules do not prevent former mayors from running for office in different districts or seeking secondary positions on the same candidate list. Burneo emphasized that the ultimate decision to select local leaders remains with citizens when they cast their votes.
