El postulante señaló que esto es porque respeta a las mujeres, nació de una y porque a las féminas jamás se debe maltratar o tocar.
Candidato de País para Todos anuncia que continuará en contienda pese a cuestionamientos. (Foto: Facebook/Carlos Alvarez Oficial)
El malestar del postulante se mostró durante la ronda de preguntas tras la presentación de los integrantes del equipo técnico que lo acompañará en la carrera electoral para los comicios generales del 12 de abril.
Álvarez fue consultado si creía que era correcto postular por un partido que tiene a un integrante con sentencia, en relación con Meza, a lo que contestó: “¿Que es un tema que a mí en lo personal me causa incomodidad? Es cierto. Yo respeto a la mujer. Soy nacido de la mujer. A la mujer no se le toca ni con el pétalo de una rosa, ni un pelo. Respeto a la mujer y respeto a la madre peruana. Esa es mi convicción”.
Añadió que Vladimir Meza debe afrontar las investigaciones correspondientes y que, si se le encuentra culpable de cualquier delito, entonces que sea condenado: “En el caso del señor Meza, bueno, que enfrente todos sus cargos y punto. Que se allane a la justicia y la justicia haga su trabajo. Que se investigue. Si es condenado, es condenado; si es absuelto, no”.
Noting the scrutiny surrounding his party, Álvarez also stated that it’s not uncommon for other political groups to have members facing legal challenges. He argued that the issue points to a broader problem within Peru’s political system.
“When we look at the different political parties, candidates with a series of accusations—and I’m not speaking to defend País Para Todos—full of those convicted, others with serious accusations, suddenly seeking immunity if they are elected, what is failing? Not only the parties, which have a great responsibility, but the system,” he criticized.
He added that if the Peruvian people were to give him the opportunity to be president, no one with a firm sentence or serious accusations would be allowed to run for public office. “That cannot be allowed because that’s where suspicions lie.”
Carlos Álvarez, precandidato presidencial de País para Todos, en entrevista con El Comercio. Foto: GEC / Joel Alonzo
/ JOEL ALONZO
—¿Tensiones?—
Sources within the party reported that Álvarez sent a letter to the party on Monday night, February 9, requesting clarification regarding Vladimir Meza’s conviction for domestic violence. The aim was to rigorously clarify the sentence he disclosed on his official paperwork, as the presidential candidate reportedly felt uneasy about it.
He made it clear that he did not agree with individuals who had committed such offenses. Sources indicated that the party was expected to respond.
A party member from Meza’s faction stated that Meza was willing to respond to the letter but expressed discomfort with Álvarez’s behavior since joining the party, alleging a tendency toward overbearingness and attempts to dictate campaign strategy.
“He doesn’t desire others to advise him; he wants to run his campaign his way. When you work as a team, everyone supports, not the opposite,” the source said regarding Álvarez.
Attempts to reach Vladimir Meza for comment on Tuesday, March 3, were unsuccessful until later in the day.
Meza initially denied any friction or tension within the party and asserted that he did not capture Álvarez’s expressions personally, despite the candidate’s discomfort with the domestic violence conviction.
“His conviction, Álvarez’s, was that of a radical person in these cases. But there are no candidates for the Chamber of Deputies or the Senate disqualified from running. These are criminal proceedings, many of them ongoing, and in some cases, they are civil sentences,” he said.
He added that Álvarez is “demanding in these filters” and that they discussed this when they decided to form an alliance, noting that Álvarez had proactively disclosed the information about his conviction some time ago.
Meza indicated that he would discuss the letter again with Álvarez on Wednesday.
“You have to understand that Carlos says things without filters,” he said.
He explained that the letter sent on Monday had been forwarded to the party’s internal bodies for review.
Although, Meza also pointed out that there are candidates proposed by the party and others by the presidential candidate, stating that in the list of candidates recommended by Álvarez, “we have found some with processes for money laundering, for domestic violence and driving under the influence.”
Vladimir Meza, presidente de País Para Todos, estuvo en ‘Siempre a las 8’ con Milagros Leiva.
—Internal Divisions?—
This isn’t the first instance of internal conflict. Earlier in February, Álvarez issued an ultimatum to Meza to identify those responsible within the party for allegedly diverting 642,000 soles from the electoral broadcast fund to the Nativa channel (Abra Producciones S.A.C.).
Sources reported at the time that Álvarez was awaiting Meza’s response and actions regarding those found responsible.
Internally, sources said Álvarez had threatened to withdraw his presidential candidacy if the matter wasn’t addressed, a claim that had already surfaced on social media.
One high-ranking source said that whenever problems arose, the presidential candidate would submit his letter of resignation or simply threaten to withdraw his candidacy.
However, another source indicated that they were tired of the candidate’s tactics.
—Family Sentence—
The controversy stems from the revelation that Vladimir Meza, a senatorial candidate, disclosed a conviction in his official paperwork.
The information was listed under the question “Relationship of sentences that declare founded the demands filed against candidates for breach of food obligations, contractual, labor or for incurring in domestic violence, which have become final.”
He responded “yes” and listed a conviction for domestic violence before the First Family Court, Central Headquarters in Huaraz.
He also declared to the JNE that he complies with the food allowance set by the Third Labor Peace Court of Áncash, which declared a food demand founded.
—Team Building—
On Tuesday afternoon, Álvarez presented his technical team at the Bianca Convention Center (Barranco), who will support him during the election campaign to develop the government plan with which the presidential candidate seeks to occupy the presidential chair.
He presented former anti-corruption prosecutor Julia Príncipe, former congressman Marco Tulio Falconí, former judge Susana Castañeda, and lawyer Julio Ullilen.
He designated engineer Carlo de Los Santos, economist Emilio Rossi, engineer and former congressman Juan Sheput, public manager Carlos Cabanillas, among others, as specialists in Economy, Infrastructure, Energy and Territorial Development.
Doctors Juan Carlos Ruiz, Jorge Ayala and nutritionist Jessica Huamán will accompany him on the health team.
In education, he will be accompanied by Lima congressional candidate Martín Soto Florián, quality education specialist Elena Lon Kan, Congressman Edward Málaga, among others.
For the issue of citizen security, Álvarez will be advised by EP General (r) Miguel Herrera, PNP senior non-commissioned officer (r) Richard Chávez, PNP General (r) Dennis Pinto, EP Colonel (r) Luis Yataco and Navy Commander (r) Coque Lozada.
Former Minister Paola Lazarte was also appointed as a collaborator of the invited technical team.
—More Teams—
Rafael López Aliaga, another presidential candidate, has also presented his technical team, including former ministers Absalón Vásquez (Agriculture), Alfonso Miranda (Production), Carlos Herrera Descalzi (Energy and Mines) and Álex Contreras (Economy).
Previously, his opponent Keiko Fujimori, of Fuerza Popular, presented her team for social programs, integrated by Jaime Yoshiyama, Carmen Lozada and Martha Moyano; health, made up of Dr. “Pepe” Recoba, former congresswoman Milagros Salazar and Congressman Ernesto Bustamante; and for the titling of basic services, integrated by Congresswoman Patricia Juárez and Cecilia Castro.
From the APRA, they indicated that the aspiring candidate to the presidential chair Enrique Valderrama will present his technical team next week.
