Pedro Castillo, associated with Peru Libre, avoided criticizing the Cuban dictatorship for its violent repression against protesters, which resulted in at least one death, and instead attacked the U.S. for its decades-long 'inhumane and immoral' embargo on Cuba. Experts, including former Vice Minister Hugo Palma and former Vice Chancellor Eduardo Ponce Vivanco, criticized Castillo's stance, suggesting it is a poor idea to support Cuba and attributing the country's issues to the U.S. embargo while ignoring the Cuban government's responsibility. Internationalist Miguel Rodríguez Mackay warned that Castillo's position could be a negative sign for Peru's future foreign policy. Gilmer Trujillo, President of the Congress's Foreign Relations Committee, condemned Castillo's position and the Cuban government's actions against its citizens.

Maribel Bejarano, director of the Duchenne Parent Project, discusses the challenges faced by families in Peru dealing with Duchenne syndrome, a rare genetic disease affecting boys. Despite the lack of awareness among doctors and misdiagnosis, especially outside Lima, Bejarano and other parents have formed an association to share advice, improve medical treatment, and advocate for new medicines and technologies. The state provides no assistance, and specialized medications are unaffordable and not purchased by health institutions. Bejarano remains hopeful and advocates for better treatment and doctor training.

Congressman Rolando Campos from Acción Popular expressed to Perú21 his opposition to the process of electing magistrates of the Constitutional Court, stating that the current parliament did not show real interest when it was necessary. Despite a judicial order to stop the election process, the majority of his party favors its continuation. Campos emphasized the importance of respecting the country's powers and responding appropriately to the questioned body.

Mirtha Vásquez, President of the Congress and congresswoman for the Frente Amplio, criticized the Judiciary's decision as questionable, stating it interferes with the powers of Congress. She emphasized the importance of responding through legal channels and respecting the principle of separation of powers. Vásquez reaffirmed the need to defend parliamentary immunity while acknowledging that it does not exempt them from judicial decisions. Her comments were made during a debate in Congress on how to respond to the Judiciary regarding a precautionary measure, followed by a discussion to elect new members of the Constitutional Tribunal.

Fuerza Popular's legal defense cited the precedent of Bolivia's 2019 presidential election audit by the OEA to request an international audit of Peru's presidential runoff elections. Lourdes Flores Nano argued for the audit, which was rejected by the JNE. The OEA's audit in Bolivia found serious irregularities and manipulation, leading to Morales' resignation and new elections. Electoral law experts José Tello and José Naupari stated that international audits are only triggered by solid indications of irregularities, which were not present in Peru according to international observers.

The upcoming election of six new magistrates for the Constitutional Tribunal has caused division within the Board of Directors of the Peruvian Congress. Vice Presidents Luis Roel and Matilde Fernández have defended the legitimacy of the Parliament's process against media criticism and political interference. Despite legal concerns raised by Congress President Mirtha Vásquez and others, the selection process, which has been marred by various criticisms, is set to conclude with a vote in Congress. Meanwhile, a legal measure to halt the selection process is being analyzed by the Tercer Juzgado Constitucional Transitorio de Lima, filed by lawyer Walter Ayala, who claims procedural flaws.

The National Jury of Elections (JNE) in Peru is nearing the end of the electoral record review process and anticipates proclaiming the new president by mid-month. The final stage follows the resolution of all nullity appeals by Fuerza Popular. The JNE will resolve remaining appeals in writing without public hearings. Disagreements among JNE members on handling the appeals have led to individual case analysis. Fuerza Popular has faced setbacks with the dismissal of two cases seeking annulment of electoral records. Keiko Fujimori continues to demand that all her cases be reviewed, emphasizing the importance of transparency and legitimacy in the electoral process. The ONPE reports a narrow vote margin between candidates Pedro Castillo (Perú Libre) and Keiko Fujimori.

Vladimir Cerrón continues to exert control over the Perú Libre presidential campaign, despite Pedro Castillo's denials. Cerrón, self-titled as the 'coordinator for Metropolitan Lima,' publicized the campaign's closing schedule. Richard Rojas, the campaign chief, confirmed this information. Castillo's contradictory statements about Cerrón's involvement have been highlighted, and Keiko Fujimori's campaign activities are also mentioned. The article touches on the denial of rally permits in Lima's plazas and the support for Castillo from Peter Cárdenas Schulte, a former member of the subversive group MRTA.

Security analyst Pedro Yaranga comments on Guillermo Bermejo's statement, aligning it with the thoughts of Vladimir Cerrón, suggesting aspirations to maintain power potentially through elections, reminiscent of Fidel Castro's approach. Yaranga also dismisses Walter Aguilar's relevance and representativeness in Ayacucho and the Comités de Autodefensa (CAD), despite Aguilar's recognition of Pedro Castillo as an 'honorary president.' The CAD has publicly rejected Castillo, and Yaranga speculates that Aguilar's recognition could be politically motivated and may result in sanctions, as Aguilar is no longer active and lacks authority.

Keiko Fujimori of Fuerza Popular and Pedro Castillo of Perú Libre signed the Citizen Proclamation, a 12-point commitment to respect democratic institutions and human rights if elected. The ceremony, led by Monsignor Pedro Barreto of the Peruvian Episcopal Conference, included the candidates explaining their reasons for signing. Castillo acknowledged the pandemic's victims and pledged to true democracy and equal opportunities. Fujimori reflected on her past and promised to correct her mistakes, aiming to make the state more sensitive and efficient. The Proclamation has the support of over 20,000 citizens.

Pedro Castillo, candidate of Perú Libre, resumed his campaign activities in Iquitos, Loreto, where he signed the Proclama Ciudadana, a civil society initiative demanding respect for democratic institutions and freedoms. Despite this, Castillo immediately criticized the media, accusing them of corruption and bias. He challenged his opponent, Keiko Fujimori of Fuerza Popular, to a debate and criticized poll results from consultancies associated with Confiep. Political analyst María Paula Távara contextualized Castillo's remarks as part of a polarized campaign period. Transparency and the National Coordinator for Human Rights, involved in drafting the Proclama, are coordinating with both presidential candidates for public commitment to the document. The Proclama is seen as a tool for civil society to demand accountability.

The Peruvian Congress has agreed to reactivate the Special Commission responsible for selecting members of the Constitutional Court (TC). Various political factions have changed their stance and are returning to resume the selection process, despite previous withdrawals in protest of the political crisis and the selection procedures. The commission will meet to agree on a new schedule. Criticisms have been raised about the current TC's defense of business interests and political bias. The Frente Amplio party has chosen not to participate due to concerns about the process. Political analyst Gerardo Távara has expressed concern over the timing and reflection required for the process. The commission has approved with 98 votes in favor, 9 against, and 5 abstentions, and will consider whether to start a new process from scratch due to the deficiencies of the previous one.

Vladimir Cerrón's tenure as the regional governor of Junín is criticized for leaving behind high rates of anemia in children and increased poverty levels. Despite promises to reduce anemia rates, they remained high throughout his terms. His management is also characterized as ineffective and authoritarian, with significant public works left unfinished. Cerrón's second term saw one of the lowest budget execution rates for projects in the country, and he was more focused on political activities, including controversial trips to China and Venezuela. He was reelected in 2019 but was suspended due to a corruption conviction. César Combina, a political opponent, labeled him 'Doctor Anemia' for the lack of progress in combating the disease.

Congressman Jim Mamani from Nueva Constitución has requested additional time from Congress President Mirtha Vásquez to substantiate the constitutional accusation against former President Martín Vizcarra, scheduled for this Friday. Mamani argues that the 30 minutes previously given was insufficient to cover the cases of the three accused, including Vizcarra, former Health Minister Pilar Mazzetti, and former Foreign Minister Elizabeth Astete, who are implicated in the 'Vacunagate' scandal involving irregular COVID-19 vaccinations. He also requested corrections for errors in the video transmission used during the presentation. Experts consulted by Peru21 suggest that Vizcarra could be barred from assuming a congressional position if the disqualification is approved.

The Congress of Peru suspended the debate on the final report from the Subcommission of Constitutional Accusations recommending the accusation of Edgar Alarcón for alleged illicit enrichment. The suspension occurred after Alarcón's lawyer, Humberto Abanto, resigned due to other scheduled commitments. Congress President Mirtha Vásquez acknowledged Alarcón's right to a technical defense and postponed the session to Friday at 9 a.m. Congresswoman Felicita Tocto presented the final report indicating 'revealing evidence' of Alarcón's financial imbalance of S/201,337.24 during his tenure as Comptroller General.

The preliminary results from ONPE and Ipsos-América TV indicate a fragmented Peruvian Congress with 11 parties, led by Perú Libre, Fuerza Popular, and Acción Popular. Martín Vizcarra is the most voted candidate in Lima, with other regions showing diverse leading candidates. The article discusses the challenges of party fragmentation and the need for pragmatic consensus-building in Congress, as well as concerns over the practice of presidential vacancy votes leading to instability.

The article discusses the vice-presidential candidates for the 2021 elections in Peru, highlighting their backgrounds and recent activities. It mentions Yonhy Lescano's running mate Gisela Tipe, Keiko Fujimori's running mate Luis Galarreta, Rafael López Aliaga's controversial running mate Neldy Mendoza, Pedro Castillo's running mate Dina Boluarte, Hernando de Soto's running mate Corinne Flores, Verónika Mendoza's running mate José de Echave, and George Forsyth's running mate Patricia Arévalo. The article also touches on the perceived hasty and incoherent selection of vice-presidential candidates by some parties and the absence of vice-presidential candidates in the campaign, suggesting a weakness in the political parties seeking power.

The Peruvian electoral landscape is uncertain with unprecedented fragmentation, as up to six candidates compete for the second round. Sociologist Carlos Meléndez attributes this to a discredited political class and a shift from a predominantly centrist electorate to polarized extremes. Corruption and the pandemic have intensified demands for change. Anthropologist Carlos Ráez links fragmentation to the discredit of prominent political figures, leading to antivote phenomena. Nicolás Ortiz and Jerjes Loayza note that the electorate's diverse demands and ideological preferences further contribute to fragmentation. The electoral division is expected to result in low legitimacy for the elected executive power.