Rafael López Aliaga biography: the businessman mayor

Rafael Bernardo López Aliaga Cazorla, popularly known as “Porky”, was born on February 11, 1961 in Lima, Peru, although he grew up mainly in Chiclayo. His career combines the business world with an intense conservative political life. The Rafael López Aliaga biography is the story of an engineer who went from business to the political arena, becoming one of the most controversial and recognized figures in contemporary Peru. He is currently the leader of the Renovación Popular party and was a presidential candidate for the 2026 general elections.

Who is Rafael López Aliaga?

Rafael López Aliaga is a Peruvian businessman and politician, known for his conservative message and his active participation in national politics in recent years. He is an industrial engineer by training and has an extensive track record in the private sector, especially in infrastructure, transport and services. He was metropolitan mayor of Lima between 2023 and 2025, and was a presidential candidate in the general elections of April 12, 2026, in which he came third and did not reach the run-off.

Rafael López Aliaga's personal details

Beginnings of his career

He was born in Lima on February 11, 1961, and grew up in Pomalca, Chiclayo, Lambayeque. He studied Civil Engineering at Universidad Nacional Pedro Ruiz Gallo, later transferring to Universidad de Piura, where he studied Industrial Engineering. He has an MBA in Finance from Universidad del Pacífico, and took the Management Development Programme at Universidad de Piura

His professional career began as a systems analyst at Banco Wiese Sudameris, where he gained experience in the financial sector. He later served as Vice President of Credit and Collections at Alicorp and Corporate Credit Manager at Citibank. Those first steps in finance and the corporate world laid the foundations of his later business success.

Professional career and achievements

López Aliaga built a solid business empire in strategic sectors of Peru:

• 🚂 PeruRail and Ferrocarril Transandino — He said he has been chairman of the board since 1999.
• 🏨 Perú Belmond Hotels — He is a shareholder in this company, which owns the Hotel Monasterio in Cusco, among other establishments.
• 🏫 Prodec (Promotora de Educación y Cultura) — He took over its management in 1994; the company runs the Los Álamos school, and since 2025 also the Humtec and Miravalles schools in the district of Comas.
• 💼 Peruval Corp S.A. — An investment company with holdings in multiple sectors of the country.
• 🏦 Acres Investments — Among the assets he declared to the JNE are Acres Investments Perú S.A., Acres Investments S.A. and Acres Investments LTD.

On the political front, his main achievements include:

• Councillor of Metropolitan Lima (2007-2010).
• Presidential candidate in 2021, where he came third in the final results.
• Elected metropolitan mayor of Lima in the elections of October 2, 2022, beating candidate Daniel Urresti with 1,372,216 votes (26.29%). Wikipedia

Standout programmes and work

During his term as mayor of Lima (2023-2025), he drove:

• ✅ Restructuring of the Municipality of Lima to improve financial management.
• ✅ Agreement with the Peruvian Army to expand transport works in the capital.
• ✅ Plan of infrastructure mega-works, described as the most ambitious in the history of Lima.
• ✅ Fundación Lima: an agreement for the management of cultural activities.
• ✅ Participation in IShowSpeed's stream — in 2025 he took part in IShowSpeed's visit to Lima, one of the most important in the history of the internet in Peru. Wikipedia
• ✅ 2026 presidential candidacy: he made his candidacy official alongside Norma Yarrow as first vice president and Jhon Ramos Malpica as second vice president.

Personal life

Rafael López Aliaga, a member of Opus Dei, describes himself as a “social Christian” and says he maintains celibacy through daily self-flagellation and devotion to the Virgin Mary. Google Translate He is one of the most openly religious Peruvian politicians on the public stage.

He openly opposes same-sex marriage, the use of contraceptives, the legalization of marijuana and abortion in any circumstance. His conservative stance on moral issues is one of his best-known personal trademarks.

He receives annual income of 1,897,374 soles from the private sector from rentals, interest and other income. In his CV he did not register any movable or immovable property in his name.

Rafael López Aliaga trivia

• Rafael Bernardo López Aliaga Cazorla, popularly known as “Porky”, was born on February 11, 1961 in Lima, Peru, although he grew up mainly in Chiclayo.
• He is the leader of the Renovación Popular party and was a presidential candidate in the 2026 general elections.
• He was metropolitan mayor of Lima between 2023 and 2025, and in the elections of April 12, 2026 he came third, without reaching the run-off.
  • 🏫 Prodec (Promotora de Educación y Cultura) — He took over its management in 1994; the company runs the Los Álamos school, and since 2025 also the Humtec and Miravalles schools in the district of Comas.
• On the political front, his main achievements include: - Councillor of Metropolitan Lima (2007-2010).
  • Presidential candidate in 2021, where he came third in the final results.

Rafael López Aliaga today (2026)

Rafael López Aliaga did not manage to reach the run-off of the 2026 General Elections. According to ONPE's official results at 99.984% of tally sheets processed (May 14, 2026), he obtained 1,993,834 votes (11.905%), coming third, some 20,910 votes from second place. Keiko Fujimori (Fuerza Popular) led the first round with 17.179% of valid votes, followed by Roberto Sánchez (Juntos por el Perú) with 12.030%, who contested the run-off on June 7, 2026. López Aliaga challenged the results and called for audits and complementary elections, alleging irregularities at polling stations in Lima.

During his campaign, López Aliaga argued that “security, life, family and freedom are non-negotiable pillars” of his government proposal, based on “humanist and Christian principles” to promote people's integral development and the strengthening of the family, with a focus on transparency, decentralization and economic revival.

Conclusion

The Rafael López Aliaga biography is a story of ambition, faith and controversy. From his beginnings in the financial sector to running the Municipality of Lima and his 2026 presidential candidacy, López Aliaga has proved to be a figure who leaves nobody indifferent. Although he did not reach the run-off of the April 2026 elections, his name remains a protagonist of Peruvian political debate.

Sources consulted

• Wikipedia: Rafael López-Aliaga.
• Infobae: ONPE results — Roberto Sánchez and Rafael López Aliaga fight vote by vote to reach the run-off.

Biography of Marisol Pérez Tello

Political career of Marisol Pérez Tello