He return of the Senate reactivated the Fuerza Popular electoral machinery, but has also revealed a risky bet: 40% of its 72 pre-candidates belong to the old guardamong former congressmen, current parliamentarians and historical figures with media records. The review carried out by the newspaper Mail shows that 29 names from the orange list have already occupied a seat, some of them involved in complaints of corruption, academic plagiarism or links to criminal organizations.
The electoral issues expert Jose Naupari considers that this strategy will not allow Fuerza Popular to expand its vote. On the contrary, it recreates a “closed cycle” within the same hard-line electorate of Fujimorism.
Are 18 former congressmen who seek to return to Parliament from the Senate. Among the best-known faces are:
- Michael Torres
- Martha Chavez
- Carlos Tubino
- Second Tapia
- Marco Miyashiro
- Milagros Salazar
- Mario Mantilla
- Karla Schaefer
- Juan Carlos Del Águila
Some, in addition to their high media exposure, have serious controversies. One of the most notable cases is that of Elard Melgarthe Fujimorist with the most votes in Lima Provinces in 2016, whose professional title was delegitimized after it was revealed that his thesis was plagiarized in almost half of the content.
Another controversial name is Modesto Figueroarelated in 2016 to the Baca Casas clan, linked to illegal mining in Madre de Dios. The Prosecutor’s Office has investigated him for alleged financing of illicit activities and clandestine gold trade.
He also postulates Cesar Camposwho became a congressman in 2018 during the vote-buying scandal against Pedro Pablo Kuczynski’s vacancy. A former advisor reported him for alleged salary cuts.
Also appearing on the list is Betty Ananculíinvestigated in 2019 for providing false information about her studies. Congress avoided lifting his immunity, which prevented the process from moving forward.
The former parliamentarian Liliana Pinedo He also returns to the race, despite having hidden a final sentence for aggravated usurpation on his resume during the campaign.
Finally, Roy Ventura Angel He is charged with the tax accusation of irregularly favoring the company Naglafer SAC in a consultancy of S/ 40 thousand when he worked in the Municipality of Huamanga.
Popular Force It also seeks to maintain its current legislative bloc. Among those who will try a new period are:
- Fernando Rospigliosi
- Patricia Juarez
- Martha Moyano
- Jeny Lopez
- Raul Huaman
- Nilza Chacon
- David Jimenez
- Victor Flores
- Alejandro Aguinaga
- Ernesto Bustamante
- Hector Ventura
Added to them is a particularly serious case: Lenin Tafuradvisor to Nilza Chacón, linked by the Prosecutor’s Office to an alleged criminal organization entrenched in Agro Rural. In 2023, a mega-operation revealed signs of a network that would have manipulated tenders and contracts.
Another name is Victor Noriegacandidate for Piura and former governor of San Martín. The Prosecutor’s Office is investigating him within the “Club de los Hospitales” case, for alleged payments of bribes amounting to almost S/ 7 million. An effective collaborator affirms that Noriega would have received close to S/ 998 thousand during his first year in office.
The profile of the senatorial list intersects with a new judicial chapter for the party leader herself. Keiko Fujimori is now being investigated by the First Prosecutor’s Office against Money Laundering for alleged illicit financing during the 2021 campaign.
The file, which he accessed Hildebrandt on his thirteenthmaintains that the organization used party structures to channel money of unknown origin and that even would have diverted S/ 1.6 million of public funds from the ONPEmoney destined exclusively for institutional strengthening.
The investigation also points to an alleged illicit collection of S/ 1.2 million carried out between July 9 and 30, 2021, when the campaign had already concluded, supposedly to finance actions aimed at ignoring Pedro Castillo’s victory.
The main defendants are: Keiko Fujimori, Miguel Ángel Torres, Luis Galarreta, Karina Beteta, Milagros Takayama and Lindman Miranda Zamalloa.
The Prosecutor’s Office will seek to present charges in the next six months.
For specialists like José Naupari, the scenario confirms that Fuerza Popular clings to its traditional core of militantsdespite the accumulated wear and tear and repeated scandals.
“In a context of general distrust, repeating questioned names does not expand the electoral base,” he maintains.
Less than a year before the 2026 General Elections, Fujimorism seems to be betting on the same path: recycling its old guard and defending it in the midst of new judicial storms.
