Former Peruvian President Ollanta Humala has accused prosecutors and political rivals of launching a politically motivated campaign against his wife, former First Lady Nadine Heredia, to prevent her from running for the presidency.
Speaking in an interview with journalist Rosa María Palacios on the program Sin Guion, broadcast by the Peruvian newspaper La República, Humala demanded a public apology from the Peruvian state for the hardship inflicted on his family during years of legal proceedings.
Humala attributed the legal and media pressure directly to economic interest groups and the inner circle of the late former president Alan García. He stated that political opponents acted out of fear in 2011 that Heredia would become the natural presidential candidate for the Peruvian Nationalist Party in the 2016 elections.
According to the former president, rival political factions attempted to eliminate his wife as a contender for the 2016, 2021, or 2026 elections. He said critics manufactured opposition surrounding the concept of a presidential couple and potential conjugal reelection while Heredia was still in her thirties and forties.
Targeting of the former first lady
Humala criticized the attorney general's office for treating Heredia as if she had been a public official. He noted that prosecutors brought formal charges and imposed restrictive measures against her even though the position of first lady carries no executive authority or formal role within the Peruvian state structure.
The nationalist leader stated that the prosecution expanded beyond reasonable judicial boundaries into wild harassment against his immediate family. He pointed out that legal scrutiny also targeted his mother and brothers, leaving his family scattered like a diaspora after years of continuous investigations.
Humala served as President of Peru from 2011 to 2016 after winning election as the nominee of the Peruvian Nationalist Party, which he co-founded with Heredia. During his term, political opponents frequently raised concerns over Heredia's influence within the administration, alleging that the couple shared executive power.
Accusations against former administration
Humala identified former president Alan García as the main figure leading the political push against his party. He asserted that rival politicians used the Peruvian Nationalist Party as a scapegoat to distract the public from corruption investigations examining earlier government administrations.
Alan García served two terms as President of Peru, first from 1985 to 1990 and again from 2006 to 2011, prior to Humala taking office. The late leader and several other former Peruvian heads of state faced extensive corruption investigations related to public works contracts awarded during their respective terms in power.
Legal actions and electoral registration
Looking ahead, Humala announced that his legal team plans to submit formal motions requesting the dismissal of all remaining investigations against his family. He also confirmed that they will fight a legal battle before the National Jury of Elections to reinstate the official registration of the Peruvian Nationalist Party.
Humala concluded by insisting that the state must formally acknowledge wrongdoing and apologize to his family. He stated that he would not permit the actions of state institutions to go unpunished, adding that he has not ruled out filing legal claims seeking financial compensation for damages.
