The Interim President of Peru, José María Balcázar, after being elected. Photo: Congress of Peru/EFE.
Peruvian Congressman José María Balcázar Zelada was sworn in as interim president by the Congress on February 19, replacing José Jerí who was removed on February 17 due to corruption allegations, underscoring the nation’s persistent political instability.
“With 64 votes, Congressman José María Balcázar Zelada has been elected president of the Congress of the Republic. Consequently, he will assume the office of President of the Republic of Peru”, the highly unpopular Congress announced on Wednesday, February 18.
José María Balcázar—who had being elected as Congressman in the 2021 general elections for the leftist Peru Libre Party—secured the Peruvian interim presidency, defeating right-winger María del Carmen Alva in a second-round election of the Congress, as neither candidate could reach simple majority of the votes in the initial round.
#CongresoInforma | Con 64 votos, el congresista José María Balcázar Zelada ha sido elegido presidente del Congreso de la República.
En consecuencia, asumirá la encargatura de la Presidencia de la República del Perú. pic.twitter.com/oY8GhnAX1j
— Congreso del Perú 🇵🇪 (@congresoperu) February 19, 2026
In the first round, Balcázar garnered 46 votes against Alva’s 43. Subsequently, the 83-year-old congressman won the second round with 60 to 43 votes and was sworn in as head of Congress, which automatically makes him interim president of Peru in the absence of elected authorities by popular vote.
This appointment marks Peru’s nineth president in a decade, a reflection of the political instability in the country run by a far-right Congress with almost no popular support.
“I am now highly motivated because my friends and colleagues have given me this honor of being able to wear the white and red of Peru on my chest,” Balcázar said in his opening remarks during the swearing in ceremony, adding that “it is possible to build a true democracy” in the country, amid the current political crisis.
The new interim president added that his objectives would be to “guarantee that there will be a peaceful and transparent democratic and electoral transition, to maintain real peace, and to ensure that the ministries are capable of dealing with crime,” and “maintaining an economic line that continues.”
“There are valuable people in Peru who need to be called,” he added, referring to the political differences and stressed that “this is not a time for fighting.” In this sense, Balcázar stated that Peru needs “a turning point to guarantee the upcoming elections and demonstrate that the country is not divided,” in a clear political gesture of unity.
Jerí’s scandals
José Jerí was removed, only 130 days after his designation, after the press uncovered his unregistered meetings with Chinese businessmen, one of whom was a state contractor.
The Attorney General’s Office is carrying out two investigations against him for illegal sponsorship of private interests and influence peddling against the state. He is also being investigated in another case of aggravated influence peddling following reports that nine women who met with him were subsequently hired as public servants without following the regular protocol.
His removal marks another turbulent chapter in Peru’s recent political history, characterized by successive presidential impeachments and ongoing corruption allegations.
Peruvian Interim President Jose Jeri Dismissed by The Congress
Decade of Instability
The current parliament, which began its term in 2021, has removed three presidents: Pedro Castillo (2021-2022), Dina Boluarte (2022-2025), and José Jerí, who served for only four months.
The decade of 2016-2026 has seen more presidential changes than any other period since Peru became a republic and gained independence from Spain in 1821.
Presidential removals or resignations in Peru often occur because leaders lack legislative majorities, allowing legislators to broadly interpret a constitutional article for removal based on “moral incapacity.”
Balcázar will govern for five months, transferring power on July 28 to the winner of the general elections that are scheduled to take place on April 12. In these elections, Peruvians will elect a president, 130 deputies, and 60 senators. If no presidential candidate secures over 50%+1 votes in the first round, the top two contenders will proceed to a run-off in June.
(Telesur)
