Roberto Chiabra announces presidential run with a national reconstruction plan centered on family, order, and sovereignty
LIMA, PERU — Amid social unrest, growing organized crime, and a clear absence of state leadership, Congressman and former Minister of Defense Roberto Chiabra has officially announced his bid for the 2026 presidential elections. Rejecting emotional populism and fashionable ideologies, Chiabra proposes a nation-building project rooted in traditional values: order, family, purposeful education, and national sovereignty.
In an exclusive interview with legal expert and editor María Herrera for Gateway Hispanic, Chiabra delivered a clear and unapologetic political vision, strongly critical of the progressive agenda that, in his view, has weakened Peru’s moral and institutional foundations. “We’re too grown up to dress up as progressives just for a few votes,” he declared, referencing the ideological opportunism of a political class detached from reality.
Roberto Enrique Chiabra León is no outsider nor a populist. A retired military officer with combat experience in the Ecuador conflict, he served as Minister of Defense under Alejandro Toledo and is now a congressman. His presidential vision veers far from welfare promises. “Peru is in crisis because it has abandoned its foundations,” he says bluntly.
For Chiabra, the root issue isn’t technical, but moral. The solution lies in rebuilding the social fabric from the ground up: the family. He rejects both nihilistic progressivism and hollow conservatism, proposing instead a third way — common sense. “The greatest wealth of a nation is its human capital,” he insists. “And that capital is formed in the family, not in the State.”
He advocates an educational reform that is not just technocratic rhetoric, but truly impactful. His plan calls for purposeful education tied to regional needs and grounded in values. “If you don’t give a young person education or a trade, how will they defend themselves in life?” he asks. His model integrates schools, universities, and technical institutes tailored to each region.
On security, Chiabra delivers a stark warning about the advance of organized crime in Peru. He notes that these are not petty criminals but entire mafias replacing the state in many areas. These groups offer loans, employment, and “security” while imposing their rule. “What we expect is a response from the State, which we don’t have,” he says.
As part of this fight, he highlighted the recent 1st International Congress on Public Security and the Fight Against Organized Crime, held in Lima — a serious attempt to bring real solutions to the government’s inaction.
On foreign policy, Chiabra voiced strong support for former U.S. President Donald Trump, whom he sees as a model of sovereign leadership and political coherence. He praised Trump’s immigration policies for prioritizing internal security and law enforcement: “If you don’t behave, you can’t stay in that country.” Sovereignty, according to Chiabra, is not optional — it’s essential.
He also pointed out that countries like Argentina and Ecuador are following similar paths, tightening immigration laws and requesting U.S. military assistance. In his view, Peru must not fall behind in a region facing transnational threats like drug trafficking and human exploitation.
Beyond his support for Trump, Chiabra clarified that Peru’s bilateral relationship with the U.S. must remain strong — but always based on mutual respect and shared national interests.
Chiabra’s interview is more than a political announcement. It’s the return of a voice that calls for responsibility, order, and patriotism. His proposal breaks with dominant progressive narratives that promise everything and deliver little. Chiabra offers the opposite: discipline, education, and a citizenry grounded in values. “Peru doesn’t need another messiah. It needs strong institutions and good people,” he concluded.
