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Veronika MendozaPeruvian leftist politician
Date of Birth: 09.12.1980
Country:  Peru |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Political Beginnings and Congressional Career
- Founding of New Peru and 2021 Presidential Bid
- Political Positions and Priorities
- Personal Life
Early Life and Education
Verónika Mendoza is a Peruvian left-wing politician born on December 8, 1980, in Cusco, Peru. She initially completed her primary and secondary education in her hometown before pursuing higher education abroad. Mendoza holds degrees from the University of Paris-Diderot (clinical humanities, specializing in psychology), the Sorbonne Nouvelle (master's degree in social sciences), and the National Distance Education University of Madrid (master's degree in Spanish as a foreign language).
Political Beginnings and Congressional Career
2016 Presidential Campaign and Support for Pedro Pablo KuczynskiIn 2016, Mendoza was nominated as the presidential candidate for the leftist coalition "Broad Front." She captured 18.74% of the votes in the first round, securing third place but ultimately being eliminated from the race. Notably, before the second round, Mendoza publicly supported Pedro Pablo Kuczynski over Keiko Fujimori, daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori, who was convicted of corruption and human rights violations. Mendoza's endorsement was a strategic move to prevent Fujimori from winning the presidency as she associated her with corruption and drug trafficking. Despite trailing Fujimori by over 18% in the first round, Kuczynski eventually emerged victorious in the second round by a narrow margin.
Founding of New Peru and 2021 Presidential Bid
In December 2017, Mendoza founded the political movement "New Peru." In the lead-up to the 2021 general elections, she announced her candidacy for the presidency once again, representing the New Peru movement and the "Together for Peru" coalition, comprising four left-wing and center-left parties.
Political Positions and Priorities
Mendoza identifies as a left-center politician. Her platform revolves around advocating for a new Peruvian constitution, diversifying the nation's economy away from its primary reliance on resource extraction, upholding the rights of women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and indigenous communities, ensuring free access to water resources, and strengthening environmental protections. She has highlighted the lack of health coverage for thousands of workers and the neglect of the healthcare system, which receives only 2.3% of the GDP, falling short of the average 4% in Latin America and the 6% recommended by the World Health Organization. In campaign interviews, Mendoza has stated her intention to prioritize economic resuscitation, followed by tax reform guaranteeing a "tax on large fortunes," and then a "productive revolution" to increase production and improve wealth distribution.
Mendoza has criticized traditional left-wing forces, claiming that "the left has not been able to build a viable political project that includes everyone equally, without discrimination." She strongly condemns the Shining Path guerrilla organization, which she says has caused "immense damage" to the country. While not aligning herself directly with left-wing leaders Evo Morales in Bolivia and Michelle Bachelet in Chile, she maintains that Peru needs "its own path." Her movement has also distanced itself from the policies of Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela, characterizing their administrations as "caudillaje" (one-man rule) and anti-democratic. Mendoza advocates for the protection of human rights in Venezuela, condemning the current government's actions without supporting Juan Guaido. She envisions the emergence of a new left-wing movement in Latin America that incorporates a significant role for private investment.
In the 2021 elections, Mendoza finished sixth, securing 1,132,577 votes (7.86%). On April 22, 2021, she and her party decided to support fellow candidate Pedro Castillo's presidential campaign in the second round. Mendoza stated that Castillo's first-round victory "represents a will for change that can make a democratic and popular solution to the crisis viable, closing the path to the authoritarian and corrupt option that Fujimori represents."
Personal Life
Verónika Mendoza is married to renowned Peruvian composer and musician Jorge Millones.
