Deputy José Pérez Barboni stated at noon on Monday that his position on the election of the Defender of the People is clear: he will not endorse the current incumbent and prefers someone new and fresh who is outside the political landscape or the three State Branches. Barboni mentions that his position is also supported by several deputies and his colleague from the Seguimos Bloc, Ernesto Cedeño. Among the most prominent names from a list of 35 aspirants are those of former magistrate Angela Russo Mainieri, who served on the Supreme Court of Justice from 2016 to 2025, as well as Eduardo Leblanc himself, who is seeking re-election and has held the position since 2021 to date. Other names observed are: Gloria Young, former deputy, and lawyer and substitute deputy Ricardo Valencia, from Shirley Castañeda's seat. "We prefer a new profile, one that offers a work plan that represents more independence and that also does not defend unconstitutional projects, as has been seen in the past," among these he mentions cassation, which brings little benefit to the country in legal matters, which is why they have decided to look for a profile that has the qualities for the position of Defender. To date, Barboni says he has not met with his Bloc or his team to specifically analyze the profile they are looking for, but while they are gathering profiles in general, to then determine which will be the best candidate. From Barboni's perspective on former magistrate Russo and her candidacy, he said he recognizes the experience she has but insists on preferring someone outside the system who has not held a position of high importance and influence in the past. The aspirants are: Johana Patricia Diaz Alberola, Boris Alexis Corcho Diaz, Luis Antonio Aldeano Ortiz, Esperanza Anayansi Ruiz Ceron, Anahi Quintero Belda, Jahaira Esther Rangel Núñez, Joel Alexis De León Quintero, Dilia Estela Cornejo Meneses, Rodrigo Alberto García Rodríguez, Igor Jomir Herrera Brugiati, Cleovis Madrid Ledezma, Eduardo Leblanc González, Rodrigo Alonso Frago Madrigales, Jorge Zúñiga Sánchez, Angela Russo Mainieri. Others: Giselle Annette Emiliani Duque, José Luis Carles Rodríguez, Joyce Janette Araujo Lasso, Raúl Eduardo Peñaloza Testa, Gloria Del Carmen Young Chizmar, Félix Humberto Paz Moreno, Venicia Clementina Chang Monterrey, Guillermo Santamaría, Jorge Enrique Aguirre Leason, Allan Poher Barrios Rosario, José Antonio Collado Valencia, Gina Larissa Correa Hils, Meiky Luz Quintero Hernandez, Roberto Rivera Concepción, Rubén Darío Frías Ortega, Johanna Yamileth Aguirre Frías, Alexander Rojas Figueroa, Ela Marife Jaén Herrera, Edgar Manuel Castillo Santamaría and Ricardo Alejandro Valencia Arias.
