Peru has named José María Balcázar as the country’s new interim president following the congressional ouster of José Jerí, who was removed over allegations of influence peddling claims he denies, as reported by Reuters.
At 83, Balcázar, a member of the left-wing Free Peru party, will lead the nation temporarily until the general election, with the swearing-in of the new president scheduled for 28 July. He assured citizens he would “guarantee a peaceful and transparent democratic and electoral transition.”
Balcázar becomes the eighth president in Peru in just a decade, reflecting a period of chronic political instability. Previous leaders, including Jerí, have been deposed by Congress, undermining public confidence in the country’s political institutions.
The political crisis comes as Peru prepares for its presidential elections. The first round is set for 12 April, but with numerous candidates, none is expected to achieve the required 50% of votes, making a run-off on 12 June highly probable. Right-wing Congresswoman Keiko Fujimori, daughter of former president Alberto Fujimori, and Lima Mayor Rafael López Aliaga currently lead in opinion polls, though the majority of Peruvians remain undecided.
Jerí’s removal was the culmination of the so-called “Chifa-gate” scandal, centred on meetings he held outside his official schedule with Chinese businessman Zhihua Yang. Videos showed Jerí visiting a restaurant late at night wearing a hooded top. While he apologised for the meetings, critics cited non-disclosure as a breach of Peruvian law. Additional scrutiny arose after state contracts were awarded to women who had late-night meetings with the president at the presidential palace.
Jerí, who had been in office for only four months, previously replaced Dina Boluarte, who was impeached in October of last year. Speaking after his ouster, Jerí maintained his innocence and said it had been an honour to serve as Peru’s president.
Public frustration over political instability is palpable. One Lima resident said, “In 10 years, how many presidents have we had? It’s an enormous setback for the country.” Another added, “We’ve gotten used to this crisis, where Congress focuses only on changing the president and looking out for its own interests.”
As Balcázar assumes office, Peru faces the dual challenges of restoring political stability and preparing for an electoral process critical to the country’s democratic future.
