Half of Peru and the APRA old guard were speechless with the results of the internal elections of the Apra. They were won by Enrique Valderrama, a young 38-year-old militant, who in the competition left behind the best-known faces, including the daughter of Alan Garcia. Today Valderrama plans not only to maintain the electoral fence so as not to lose the party’s registration, but he believes that he will go to the second round and then win it and thus preside over the third APRA government.
Valderrama says that his grandfather, who worked as a trailer driver, dreamed of his son becoming more educated than him, so he bought him a large library, the same one that his grandson would devour precociously decades later. At only 13 years old, after having read several classics and some books on international politics, Kike – as he prefers to be called – found Raúl Haya de la Torre’s book, ‘Anti-imperialism and El Apra’.
He explains: “That connected me with my intellectual curiosity and then led me to the People’s House.” He was the first in his family to register for the party and, in fact, he keeps the symbolic token of his entry, when he did not have an ID. Valderrama then tells about his approach to grassroots militants. He was especially impressed by Armando Villanueva, whom he accompanied closely during his last three years, and of course, he is very aware of his relationship with Alan García, with whom he spoke constantly. I ask him what the former president would say about his candidacy and he answers confidently: “If he saw me now he would encourage me and say that the decision to register as a pre-candidate was bold.”
He is the youngest of the long list of candidates for 2026, how does that favor him?
I think the militancy took the opportunity wisely. 70% of the people surveyed wanted a new person, the challenge now is to demonstrate that this new project is embodied in my spokesperson.
And couldn’t a young APRA remember the inexperience of the first AGP government?
It is a tempting reasoning in any case, but this would not be the first time for Enrique Valderrama, but rather it would be the third time for Apra. I think there is a difference there. I have an institution with 100 years of history, with two experiences of government, with technicians, with intellectuals, and we can undoubtedly have the answers that the country needs today, in the case of citizen security, of economic growth.
Although today’s Apra is much less popular than Alan’s 1985 and 2016.
Like almost all parties, unfortunately today they do not pass, from a symbolic point of view, 6%. Let’s say that we are in a correlation of weaknesses in any case and Apra wants to get out of that scheme by proposing a social agenda, representing sectors of youth, women, rural producers, artisanal fishermen, transporters, etc. If we represent that great social front, I think we can have an interesting electoral attraction, far from the parties that have governed in recent years.
Do you see not having been at the last Congress as an advantage?
Definitely. And also because we have made important opposition to issues that could be classified as criminally sensitive with respect to President Boluarte, the Wayki issue, the Rolex issue, the surgeries… and what about President Jerí, if we are outraged by Sarratea and Castillo’s cap, the hood and the dark glasses with Chinese businessmen, it is no different.
What is the position of candidate Valderrama against Jerí as current spokesperson for Apra?
Jerí must be removed, definitively. I don’t think I have the dignity to resign.
And what do you think about parties like Fuerza Popular, APP or Renovación Popular?
I believe that Fuerza Popular has the DNA of authoritarianism due to the systematic vindication of the 90s. I believe that there was no real mea culpa regarding that. I believe that Alianza para el Progreso and Acuña are the cancer of Peruvian politics, I have said it, and particularly in the north of the country. I think Mr. López Aliaga is quite well-intentioned, but promising that Lima is going to be a world power and then leaving office does not seem the most elegant to me.
What is Apra’s campaign strategy?
We are building party unity. Moving around the country, I have been in the Piura mountains, in Huancabamba, promising that we are going to build the Canchaque – Huancabamba highway. In Lambayeque, promising the two hospitals that are needed there. In La Libertad, seeing the solution to the Pataz issue, the extortion, the hitman. Also Arequipa, speaking of Corío; in Cusco, on the energy issue and soon we are going to Vraem as well. I think we have to try to comb, in these sixty-odd days left, as many places in the entire country as possible.
What is the strength of your government plan?
Without a doubt, the issue of pacification of the country in addition to job creation are the two fundamental pillars. I believe that on the issue of citizen security we have to go hard against a shock that implies strengthening the National Police, adequate control of the borders, a reform of the penitentiary system and that definitely implies harsher sanctions for those police officers, judges and prosecutors who betray the people.
How are the spirits of the former militants and this youth that has arrived?
I think there is a good synergy. We practically play by memory, because we are all Apristas by training. Yes, I think we need to have some accents now. The accents now have to do with the social issue that I am putting at the center of the debate. I think that Apra has to reaffirm its democratic left position.
After the internship, did you receive congratulations from Javier Velásquez Quesquén, for example?
Now that situation no longer makes sense. It is no longer necessary at this point, but surely at the fraternity meeting we will all appear together.
There is some annoyance because some who were not elected have appeared on the lists after the internal ones.
No, the rules are quite clear and there was a space reserved by the Statute law for 20% of guests. There may be discomfort due to political decisions, but those who have been elected have been respected and those who have not been elected are entering for the 20%, as guests and they are quite isolated cases.
But what do you think of that nuisance that has caused you?
I respect it, but we are in another stage.
What is this stage?
The stage of party unity to face the campaign and have a victorious result on April 12.
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