Overview
- At a Wednesday debate in Lima organized by Peru’s election authority, 12 presidential candidates pushed tough crime agendas that ranged from using the armed forces for internal order to building new high-security prisons and forming elite anti-extortion teams.
- Keiko Fujimori and Mesías Guevara traded sharp barbs during the security segment, reflecting a campaign climate where accusations about crime policy and corruption now overshadow detailed programs.
- Following the debate’s tense lead-up outside the venue, supporters of APRA and Fuerza Popular shouted and shoved before police and party stewards restored calm, underscoring how street tensions are tracking the race.
- El Comercio reported that President José María Balcázar is considering scrapping a decree that ordered Petro‑Perú’s breakup and backing a rescue of more than $2 billion through a state guarantee to pay crude suppliers and stabilize operations.
- Mexico moved on World Cup preparations on two tracks, with President Claudia Sheinbaum asking the Senate to admit 35 U.S. special-operations trainers from April 3 to May 1, while Mexico City’s Clara Brugada said seven of 12 Tlalpan underpasses will be fixed before kickoff as long‑time Estadio Azteca vendors warned they may block roads if FIFA exclusion zones shut them out.