Interview with Victor Huaranca Medina, Candidate for Governor of Callao, Peru
Pressenza
- Peru is approaching the October 2027 regional and municipal elections, with candidates in Callao focusing on long-standing issues of corruption, insecurity, and economic stagnation.
- Victor Huaranca Medina, a former anti-corruption activist running for the Buen Gobierno party, advocates for systemic reforms in security, education, and regional infrastructure.
Anti-Corruption and Security Strategy
- Huaranca criticizes the last 20 years of local governance as deeply corrupt, linking officials to organized crime and contract killings.
- Proposes a rapid-response police base supported by drone technology and surveillance networks to target street crime and extortion.
- Aims to restore dignity to public service by ensuring fair wages and eradicating the current culture of salary-cutting and extortion among officials.
Education and Social Support
- Identifies education as the primary tool to rescue youth from environments defined by drugs and crime.
- Plans to create housing and study facilities for up to 5,000 students to provide a stable environment for personal and professional development.
- Advocates for technical training workshops to prepare students for careers in fields like welding and logistics, reflecting the needs of the regional economy.
Economic Development and Infrastructure
- Seeks to transform Callao into a major logistics hub, leveraging its position as the site of the Jorge Chávez International Airport and the country's primary seaport.
- Proposes a working group to develop San Lorenzo Island, aiming to incorporate 24 square kilometers for commercial and urban expansion.
- Plans to complete stagnant public works, including the upgrade and recategorization of the San José and Ventanilla hospitals.
Accountability
- Pledges to commission an international audit of the region covering the past 20 years to establish a historical record of corruption.
- Promotes urban improvement projects, such as planting native trees in vacant land, to generate immediate employment and foster social unity.