Overview

• On Oct. 15, Peru’s National Jury of Elections declared the vacancy of Mayor Fernando Velasco after reviewing case file JNE-2025000462 submitted by citizen Carmen Cuadra.
• The case centers on the December 2024 handover of the heated semi‑Olympic pool at Complejo Deportivo N°1 Terán to a private firm tied to businessman Edgardo Merino for a swimming academy.
• The municipal council did not approve the contract in January 2025 even as publicity and classes had already occurred, according to the case record.
• Resident payments were routed to Merino’s personal account and via the Yape app, and the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation for alleged embezzlement; reports indicate the operator later returned the funds.
• Under succession rules, suspended deputy mayor Richard Cortez of Alianza para el Progreso would assume provisional control, following his earlier suspension after a video appeared to show him receiving 5,000 soles.